CHEWs warned against selling government drugs
“Do not sell, divert, or misuse anything that is meant to benefit patients in your villages,” Dr. Olaro said.
Buliisa: Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in Buliisa District have been strongly warned against selling, diverting, or misusing government drugs meant for patients at the village level.
The warning was issued by the Director General of Health Services, Dr. Charles Olaro, while presiding over the graduation ceremony of 78 Community Health Extension Workers held at the Buliisa District headquarters grounds.
Dr. Olaro cautioned the graduates to desist from any form of malpractice involving medical supplies intended for community members. “Do not sell, divert, or misuse anything that is meant to benefit patients in your villages,” Dr. Olaro said.
He further encouraged the CHEWs to always refer expectant mothers to health facilities for delivery as a way of reducing maternal and neonatal deaths.
Dr. Olaro explained that government investment in the CHEWs programme focuses on disease prevention, community mobilisation to health facilities, early disease detection, immunisation, nutrition promotion, hygiene, and family planning, among other services.
He revealed that so far 5,288 CHEWs from 38 districts across the country have successfully completed training, adding that more enrolment will be conducted by January 2026 to cover the remaining districts.
The Director General also advised the CHEWs to continuously consult the medical reference books provided to them and to properly use the tablets issued for reporting medical conditions. He urged them to live exemplary lives and work closely with health workers at health centres to bridge the gap between communities and the health system.
Speaking at the same event, Buliisa District Health Educator, Robert Mugabe, said the 78 CHEWs were selected from 38 parishes, with two representatives chosen from each parish. He noted that the comprehensive training programme ran from February to July, lasting six months.
Mugabe explained that Buliisa was prioritised for the CHEWs programme because it is epidemic-prone and a border district, making it vulnerable to cross-border health challenges.
He said CHEWs are deployed at parish level to support disease prevention, community sensitisation, mobilisation for health services, referrals, immunisation, treatment of minor illnesses, and supervision of Village Health Teams (VHTs).
Their responsibilities also include sensitising communities on gender-based violence, following up school dropouts, supervising kitchen gardens, and monitoring nutrition to address malnutrition among children.
Mugabe urged the CHEWs to properly use the medical equipment provided to them, including tools for screening cancer, diabetes, and blood pressure.
He encouraged community members to utilise the services of CHEWs, noting that they are well trained and capable of delivering quality health services.
Mugabe further revealed that although 78 percent of pregnant women attend antenatal services, many fail to return for delivery at health facilities.
“CHEWs must follow up expectant mothers up to delivery time and ensure they are referred to health facilities to save lives,” he said.
He warned that deliveries conducted by traditional birth attendants pose serious risks, including bleeding and obstructed labour, which cannot be properly managed outside health facilities. He added that newborns also miss essential immunisation, increasing the risk of complications.
The CHEWs were equipped with blood pressure machines, glucometers, thermometers, medicine kits, reporting tablets, bicycles, branded jackets, and gumboots to facilitate their work.
In addition, World Vision donated an anaesthetic machine to be used in surgical operations at Biiso Health Centre IV theatre.
The District Vice Chairperson, Vincent Mukonyezi, encouraged the CHEWs to use their knowledge to benefit grassroots communities, while the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Sylvester Tumukurate, warned them against corruption and urged them to follow rules, regulations, and guidance from their supervisors.
Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256757022363.
