Mungherera wants village health teams regulated

Apr 15, 2014

The President of the World Medical Association, Dr Margaret Mungherera has urged Government to regulate the work of Village Health Teams (VHTs).VHTs are volunteers recruited by Government to diagnose and treat basic ailments in communities that are distant from health facilities.

By Taddeo Bwambale

The President of the World Medical Association, Dr. Margaret Mungherera has urged Government to regulate the work of Village Health Teams (VHTs).

VHTs are volunteers recruited by Government to diagnose and treat basic ailments in communities that are distant from health facilities.

VHTs are mostly trained to treat children under the age of five who suffer from malaria, while others have received training to administer family planning injections.

The use of VHTs was introduced into Uganda’s healthcare system in 2000 as a measure to help increase the uptake of health services in communities.

The model has since been replicated in several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa which have reported significant gains in health service delivery.

Mungherera, in an interview with New Vision on Tuesday said medical workers want Government to regulate and professionalise the work of VHTs.

“Right now, some VHTs are even giving injections for family planning. Very soon, you will find them performing caesarian section,” she said.

Citing Ethiopia which was using a similar model, Mungherera urged Government to provide incentives to VHTs including a salary, given their role in increasing access to healthcare.

VHTs are chosen among literate students from Primary Five to O’Level, trained in case management and given kits for diagnosing and treating ailments such as Malaria.

They are also engaged to mobilise communities for public health campaigns such as immunisation, nutrition and hygiene.

The assistant commissioner for health promotion and education in the health ministry, Dr Paul Kaggwa said an assessment of their role in service delivery was being conducted.

He noted that the involvement of VHTs in immunisation campaigns had helped to increase coverage to 96% in western Uganda.

Dr. Godfrey Magumba, Country Director of Malaria Consortium Uganda said they were training VHTs in 17 districts to help reduce the high infant mortality.

In Uganda, about 55,000 children under five die from pneumonia, malaria and diarrhoea every year.
 

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