The Member of Parliament for Kitagwenda County, Robert Mugabe, has called on the Ministry of Health to prioritize the recruitment and deployment of Community Health Extension Workers to address the shortage of health workers and improve access to healthcare services in the district.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mugabe raised concerns over the inadequacy of health facilities in Kitagwenda, saying the existing services were insufficient to meet the healthcare needs of the growing population.
The legislator also urged the government to consider absorbing Village Health Team members into the Community Health Extension Workers programme, noting that they have continued to provide essential healthcare services at the community level without pay.
In response, the State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties, Hon. Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, said Community Health Extension Workers would work alongside Village Health Teams to strengthen the delivery of healthcare services at the community level.
The minister added that the Ministry of Health was considering the recruitment concerns raised but did not provide a specific timeline for when the exercise would begin.