Kampala community health workers demand for monthly allowances 

Aug 10, 2022

The community health workers said for them to be able to execute their duties, they should be motivated by the government, to cover their financial needs. 

Richard Walyomo, the Dvision Medical officer (DMO) central division, speaking to Village health team members in Kampala. (Courtesy Photo)

Henry Sekanjako
Journalist @New Vision

HEALTH | KAMPALA | VHTs | COVID-19

Kampala Community health workers, also known as Village Health Teams (VHTs), have requested that the government consider providing them with monthly stipends for their community health services.

According to the government's standing orders, VHTS are only given sh12,00 per project engagement.

However, during a meeting with the division medical officer (DMO) and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) hosted by the Uganda National Health Consumers Organization (UNHCO), the VHTS stated that the government should pay for their services monthly in the form of allowances.  

"We cannot labor for free without receiving allowances." We serve as the government's eyes and ears. "We go where the government cannot," said Harbert Kasasa, a local health team officer from Kamwokya. 

The community health workers said for them to be able to execute their duties, they should be motivated by the government, to cover their financial needs. 

They also proposed that the government allow them to give them work identification cards for easy identification by the locals. 

“Identification is also very crucial. It should be worked on. We work under the city council, but when you go they ask you who you are and you don’t have any document to identify yourself,” said one of the community health workers. 

Defending the VHTs, UNHCO implored the government to come up with clear terms on how to engage community health workers, as a way of motivating them. 

“VHTs have been doing a lot of work without major terms of reference, KCCA should help with terms of reference saying we have engaged you; you will be doing abcd,” Moses Kirigwajjo, programs officer at UNHCO said. 

 He added asked the Government to be transparent when dealing with VHTs adding that: “even if they are getting sh5000, let it be clear to them if it doesn’t come out on time still inform them”. 

According to UNHCO, despite VHTS playing a crucial role in community health engagement, there is no formal budget for them to operate. 

The civil society organization pointed out the delayed payment of community health workers that were critical to the COVID-19 disease surveillance and case detection and community mobilization exercises at the height of COVID-19 in Kampala and the country at large. 

“The funds were appropriated by Parliament, but to date, the VHTs are yet to receive the funding meant to be a motivational token for their services,” Moses Talibita, a legal officer at UNHCO, said. 

Parliament recently approved sh400m for payment of VHTS in Kampala for their support towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

However, the VHTS has to date according to the stakeholders, not received the funds, despite the release of the funds by the government. 

Speaking during the meeting, the division medical officer (DMO) for the central division, Dr. Richard Walyomo, explained that the funds had been returned to the consolidated fund after disagreements on the disbursement of the said funds emerged. 

After intervention by the KCCA executive director, the funds according to Dr. Walyomo were again released and only sh80 million was allocated to the VHT activities. 

Responding to the issue of remuneration for VHTs, Dr. Walyomo, implored VHTs to engage their local leaders, such as councilors, to bring the matter to the attention of the City council. 

“Let's talk with local councilors who will engage the council to have VHTs given allowances every month,” Dr. Walyomo advised. 

Last week, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, pledged before Parliament that she would reconsider an earlier Parliament resolution on the increment of remuneration for VHTs. 

Her pledge followed a motion by Buhaguzi county MP Stephen Aseera, who proposed that the government increase the VHTs’ monthly stipend from over Sh10,000 to Sh100,000 per, member. 

VHTs participate in the management of local health services, including home visits, health education, management of common illnesses, and follow-up on pregnant mothers.

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