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UGANDA LAUNCHES THE FIRST EVER NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH STRATEGY

Kampala; 9 February 2023 – As part of the activities to mark the Community Health Week, the first ever National Community Health Strategy (NCHS) (2021/22 – 2025/26) was launched today by the Minister for Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero at Speke Resort, Munyonyo. This strategy is anchored in the Parish Development Model and will ensure accessible services for all persons right from the grassroot level.

The Government of Uganda is committed to improving community health and people’s livelihoods through the provision of basic health services in both rural and urban communities. Historically, improved community health has significantly contributed to improvement in Uganda’s health outcomes, in particular, attainment of Millennium Development Goal 4 which was concerned with the reduction of child mortality.

“When communities are empowered, they can improve their own health, promote development and therefore economic growth” Dr. Aceng said while launching the strategy. The strategy will be implemented by the Village Health Teams and Community Health Workers.

“There is a limit to volunteerism. People need to be motivated to do what they do. And it is not just about payment, it is also about being equipped” Dr. Aceng added.

Dr. Charles Ayume, Chair of the Parliamentary Health Committee said “the NCHS plan clearly stipulates Community Health as an important prerequisite and emphasizes the importance of the health sector to engage in community-based preventive and promotive healthcare”

While making commitments, Christine Namayanja, Country Director, Living Goods pledged to support the dissemination and implementation of the strategy upto the last mile. She added that the community health system will be strengthened through digitization, equipping, supervising and compensated community health workers.

Andrew Musoke, Chair of the Country Coordinating Mechanism, Global Fund informed the audience that The Global Fund has committed $3.4M to piloting the Community Health Workers program in the four districts of; Kyotera, Kazo, Maracha and Amudat. He further pledged Global Fund’s support in implementing this strategy.

The National Community Health Strategy costed at UGX 5 billion is an important tool in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) including the targets made by the health sector under the Sustainable Development Goals.

In order to drive progress towards UHC, the NCHS will leverage on the Community Health acceleration roadmap which identified the following priority areas:

Service Delivery
Health Workforce
Information Systems
Supply Chain Systems
Health Financing
Leadership and Governance

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