Accelerating Community Health: Insights from Uganda’s 3rd Annual Community Health All Partners’ Retreat

The 3rd Annual Community Health All Partners’ Retreat, held in Mbale District, was a remarkable event that underscored Uganda’s commitment to advancing community health. Convened under the theme “Accelerating Progress Towards an Integrated Community Health Agenda,” the retreat brought together key stakeholders, including government representatives, development partners, and health sector players, to reflect on achievements and chart a collaborative path forward.

Living Goods was honored to be recognized for its vital contributions to Uganda’s health system over the years and, more recently, for its work through the Building Integrated Readiness for Community Health (BIRCH) Project, funded by the Global Fund.

During the retreat, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, highlighted the indispensable role of Village Health Teams (VHTs) and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in fostering a household-based health model. She emphasized that these groups are not isolated workers; rather, they are enablers that empower communities to take charge of their health needs.

“The concept of Village Health Teams (VHTs) and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) is not about ownership by these groups but about empowering communities to advocate for themselves, to understand their health needs, and to take action,” she stated.

Her sentiments resonated deeply with the vision of Living Goods, which envisions a world where every family can easily access the healthcare they need to survive and thrive. Living Goods has been at the forefront of supporting the Ministry of Health in revising and strengthening key strategies for these critical frontline workers.

Living Goods received recognition for its technical and operational support. The Ministry of Health emphasized the significance of the BIRCH project in standardizing the recruitment, performance, and management of Village Health Teams (VHTs) and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs).

“With support from Living Goods under the BIRCH project, we are revising the VHT and CHEW strategy to standardize their recruitment, performance, management, and motivation, thereby ensuring quality service delivery,” noted a senior program officer from the Ministry of Health.

Living Goods’ contributions have also extended to supporting the development of the recently launched National Community Health Strategy Implementation Guidelines, which serve as a key framework for harmonizing community health efforts across the country.

The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, urged all partners to focus on actionable steps to address pressing health challenges such as malnutrition, sanitation, and hygiene, which remain significant burdens in rural Uganda.

Her call for data-driven health systems aligns with the Ministry’s emphasis on fast-tracking the rollout of the Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS). This tool supports the critical work of VHTs and CHEWs by enabling them to provide standardized, quality healthcare at the household level and to capture important data for decision-making—an endeavor also supported by Living Goods.

Our Director for Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships, Amy Kakiza, emphasized that “our success in rolling out eCHIS and leveraging digitization for improved community health hinges on our coordination, collaboration, and shared vision as partners.”

The retreat concluded with a renewed sense of purpose, highlighting the collective commitment to empowering communities and building resilient health systems. For Living Goods, this recognition serves as a testament to the power of collaboration and the transformative impact of community health investment.