As the first light of dawn breaks over the quiet villages of Buyere Parish in Mpungwe Sub- County, Mayuge District, a bicycle wheel kicks up dust as it leaves the ground, setting into motion the start of a new day. Nyende Abdul Aziz pedals through the stillness, a smartphone in his pocket, a pen clipped to his shirt, and a notebook tucked under his arm.

This mobility tool is essential for reaching remote villages with life-saving health messages. He is not just a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW), but a vital connector between the people and the health system that serves them.

“I may not be a doctor,” Nyende says with a humble grin, “but every day, I am helping someone live a healthier life. That’s what matters.”

His workday starts with supervision, a core pillar of his role. He checks in with Wotali Irene a Village Health Team (VHT) member from Buyere village, where they have scheduled a joint household visit. As part of the structured community health workflow, Nyende accompanies the VHT to assess sanitation practices, provide basic health education, and support early detection of illnesses like malaria and diarrhoea.

However, their tasks are often challenged by systemic issues such as medicine stock-outs and prohibitive transport costs, which can hinder their ability to provide timely care. In this context, Nyende’s coaching becomes crucial. He observes, coaches, and guides, ensuring that VHTs are not only active but also equipped with the knowledge and skills to perform their tasks effectively despite these barriers.

“Mentorship is key, we can’t just tell VHTs what to do, we must show them, support them, and celebrate their efforts.”

By mid-morning, Nyende is sitting with Nurse Evelyn Nabirye at Kasutaime Health Center II. They swap insights: what the health facility is seeing, and what’s happening in the community. That back-and-forth helps ensure mothers, children under five, and families seeking family planning services get timely, practical support.

“Because of CHEWs like Nyende, we can plan better and serve more people,” Evelyn explains.

Later in the day, Nyende gathers a small crowd under the shade of a mango tree. Mothers with babies, older men, and curious children listen as he talks about hygiene, safe water, and the importance of latrines.

“We don’t wait for people to come to us,” he says. “We go where they are funerals, churches, village meetings. Anywhere the people are, that’s where we take the message.”

Turning data into action

His work isn’t only about words, it’s also about numbers. Using Uganda’s Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), Nyende and the VHTs log real-time data on households and health trends. This information, powered by the Global Fund–supported BIRCH project and Africa Frontline First, flows all the way to the Ministry of Health, where it shapes decisions on resources and policies.

“This data is not just numbers,” Nyende says. “It reflects lives, gaps, progress and shapes policies.”

CHEWs like Nyende are the local face of Uganda’s Parish Development Model (PDM). Each household visit, referral, and coaching session translates national policy into real-world impact.

“We are the boots on the ground,” Nyende says. “We translate strategy into action.”

As the evening sets in, Nyende gathers with fellow CHEWs to review data and share lessons learned. On his walk home, he reflects on his journey, from helping VHTs record data as a boy to becoming a frontline health leader.

“I may not wear a white coat,” he says with a smile. “But I’m proud of what I do in supporting doctors. We’re changing lives, one home at a time.”

Stories like Nyende’s remind us that saving lives isn’t only about advanced hospitals or specialized medicine. Sometimes, it’s about a bicycle, a notebook, and a dedicated person determined to bring health directly to people’s doorsteps.