Government advised to employ Community health workers

Sep 26, 2016

The NPA Vice Chairman, Prof. Abel Rwendeire said the youth can be trained in basic health information to help in sensitizing the community about hygiene.

The National Planning Authority (NPA), is proposing that the ministry of health employ jobless youth to sensitize the population on prevention of diseases to cut costs.

The NPA Vice Chairman, Prof. Abel Rwendeire said the youth can be trained in basic health information to help in sensitizing the community about hygiene.

"You see government spends a lot of money when these diseases like cholera breakout yet they can be prevented. I think community health workers can help reduce expenditures at household level and on side of government," he said.

Rwendeire made the remarks while making a presentation titled: 'National Planning and Sustainable Development Goals for Health' in Kampala.

This was during the 12th Joint Annual Scientific Conference under the theme: "From MDGs to SDGs: A Holistic Approach to Health for Sustainable Development" organised by Makerere College of Health Sciences.  

In an interview with the New Vision, Rwendeire said many diseases are as a result of poor sanitation and hygiene, health life styles and poor feeding among others.

He said the ministry of health needs to work with sectors like agriculture and education for effectiveness.

Rwendeire said there is also need to invest more in research within the health sector to come up with innovations that can help to detect and get prepared for other epidemics like Ebola and Marburg, than panicking when there is a breakout.

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