Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has urged the Ministry of Health to roll out community health extension workers across the country to bridge the gap between people at the grassroots and formal healthcare facilities.
Presiding over plenary on Tuesday, Tayebwa said the workers provide basic health checks in communities and sensitise residents about available health services.
“This is a good programme that should go all over the country. Our role as Parliament will be to support the Ministry of Health during the budgeting process so that primary healthcare is given critical attention,” he said.
Tayebwa cited a recent pass-out ceremony for community health extension workers in Mitooma District, where he officiated, saying the workers were equipped with tools such as blood pressure machines and glucometers.
He said the equipment enables the workers to check residents’ blood pressure and blood sugar levels and identify those who require further medical attention.
However, Tayebwa urged the government to ensure the workers are adequately and consistently remunerated.
“These same people complain that they have not received their allowances. The Director-General of Health Services said the Ministry of Health had already written to the Ministry of Finance for supplementary funding. I want to call upon you to support this programme wherever it is,” Tayebwa said.
The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, also called for timely payment of the workers and an increase in their monthly remuneration.
Ssenyonyi said the Minister of State for Health, Dr Charles Ayume, had acknowledged that the workers had gone for some time without payment and promised to follow up on their facilitation.
“We do not know if there is a latest update from the ministry because these people play a pivotal role in health service provision at that level,” Ssenyonyi said.
Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi attributed the delayed payments to a transition in funding from health development partners to the government.
“They are paid Shs150,000 per month, and we are engaging with the Ministry of Finance so that we get the resources, pay them and clear the arrears,” Dr Baryomunsi said.
He said the programme has so far been implemented in 70 districts, with two community health extension workers trained by the Ministry of Health in each parish.
Dr Baryomunsi described the programme as relatively new and said he would present an information paper to Parliament detailing the workers’ roles and the programme’s coverage across the country.
