Each morning, Muzamiru Samanya starts his day knowing that someone in his community might need help. On Wednesdays, his community service day, he’s at the local health facility checking which mothers have come for antenatal care, reviewing immunization records, and following up on earlier referrals.

But his work as a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) goes far beyond the clinic. Serving in Buyere Parish, Mayuge District, he supports six Village Health Team (VHT) members across three villages; Mwezi, Kabere, and Kyete. His goal is simple: to make sure every household has access to the health services they need to live healthy, productive lives.

With a bicycle and mobile phone, Muzamiru visits homes to track children who’ve missed vaccines, check sanitation, and talk with families about hygiene and disease prevention. “We don’t just treat people; we help them understand how to stay healthy. That’s real change,” he says.

One day in Mwezi, during routine visits, he met a young woman in labor. She was alone and scared. Muzamiru quickly called a nearby VHT, and together they got her to the health facility. She was later referred to a hospital, where she safely delivered her baby through emergency surgery. “That felt like a mission fulfilled,” he recalls.

Muzamiru’s work is made possible through partnership between the Ministry of Health and Living Goods. The Ministry provides oversight, while Living Goods offers supervision, ongoing training, and digital tools that make community health work more efficient. Through the government’s electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), Muzamiru helps VHTs sync data, track medicine distribution, and monitor community trends. “With eCHIS, we can see what’s happening in real time and respond faster,” he explains.

The work isn’t without challenges. Medicine stockouts are common, payments are often delayed, and maintaining bicycles, the main transport for CHEWs can be costly. Muzamiru believes that regular refresher trainings, better access to medicines, and basic digital devices could help community health workers like him reach even more people.

His efforts also support Uganda’s Parish Development Model, which seeks to expand access to essential services such as healthcare, water, sanitation, and education. Through his visits, families not only receive care, but they also learn how to take charge of their health. The results are tangible: cleaner homes, higher immunization rates, and better school attendance.

“When I teach people, I see their mindset change,” he says. “That’s when I know the community is growing, not just surviving.”

He pauses, then adds, “Health is not a privilege, it’s a promise. My job is to help keep that promise, every single day.”