Panacea or pitfall? The introduction of community health extension workers in Uganda

Abstract

### Summary box In 2018, the world commemorated 40 years of the Alma Ata Declaration on primary health care (PHC) which emphasised the importance of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in ensuring its vision of health for all. In line with the declaration, Uganda launched a CHW programme in 2001 in an effort to address the high disease burden and critical shortage of health professionals, as well as improve equitable access to health services.1 The programme established a cadre of volunteers charged with the responsibility of empowering communities to take control of their own health and well-being, and actively participate in …