The Ministry of Health, in partnership with The AIDS Support Organization (TASO), has officially handed over the Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) program to the Kazo District Local Government. Starting this September, the district will take full control of the program’s operations, while the Ministry of Health will continue to fund the CHEWs' salaries and provide technical support.

The official handover took place today during a meeting held at the office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), attended by officials from the Ministry of Health, TASO representatives, district health technical staff led by the Deputy CAO, and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kazo, Captain Yahaya Kakooza.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Edward Muganga, the Chews National Technical Officer, applauded Kazo District leadership for their outstanding work during the program's implementation phase. He noted that the program’s transition to district management is a strategic move aimed at strengthening community health service delivery at the grassroots level.

“The CHEWs will now be directly managed from the district level, although their salaries will still be paid by the Ministry of Health,” Muganga stated. He also urged health facility in-charges to consistently supervise the CHEWs and monitor their performance to ensure effective service delivery. Additionally, he warned the CHEWs against misusing government equipment provided to them.

The Acting District Health Officer Esther Bully Kiden, expressed satisfaction with how the program has been handled so far. He thanked the Ministry of Health and TASO for choosing Kazo as one of the first districts to implement the CHEWs program.

Also speaking at the event, Deputy CAO Keith Bahemuka, who represented the Chief Administrative Officer, welcomed the transition and affirmed the district’s continued collaboration with the Ministry of Health to ensure the program achieves its objectives.

“We are committed to seeing that the CHEWs program works effectively as it was designed, now that it’s under the district's management,” Bahemuka said.

Resident District Commissioner, Captain Yahaya Kakooza, commended the government for its continued investment in health services, particularly at the community level.

“We thank the Ministry of Health and TASO for supporting Kazo District with this vital program that aims to bring health services closer to the people,” the RDC said.

About the CHEWs Program
The Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) program is a Ministry of Health initiative, supported by TASO, designed to enhance primary healthcare at the community level.
Each parish in Kazo District has two CHEWs one male and one female selected by local leaders and vetted by both the Ministry of Health and the District Health Department. All selected candidates met the minimum requirement of O-Level certificate.

Following their recruitment, the CHEWs underwent six months of rigorous training at the Kazo District headquarters. Upon completion, they were deployed to their respective parishes, where they are expected to spend 70% of their time in the community and 30% at nearby health facilities.

CHEWs are equipped with the knowledge and tools to prevent, identify, and manage common diseases at the household level. They are also expected to receive additional equipment to aid in their work and improve service delivery.

Tinyefuza Naboth
Kazo District Communications Officer