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“That’s Improvement!”: Uganda Focuses on Health Workers

Meet three health workers who love their jobs. They find joy in serving their clients, but they face many challenges. To improve health services, Uganda is focusing on the people that provide quality care.

Health worker with client and baby

Dr. John Baptist Waniaye was working as a medical officer when he realized he wanted to take on a new role. “I opted to go into management for health [because... [Read More]

Patients at Dokolo Health Center IV

“My office is like a web. All information about human resources is needed in my office,” explains Ojulun Joreme. He’s the principal personnel officer for... [Read More]

Client at health center

In Mbale District, Uganda, one exhausted midwife—widely loved by her community and usually fantastic at her job—found herself snapping at her clients and being... [Read More]

Nurse with family planning client

“To talk about sexual and reproductive health, and not to talk about human resources for health—then the equation is not complete,” says Patrick Mugirwa, a... [Read More]

Health worker at Mulago National Referral Hospital

How can a global project and a country-specific project work together to strengthen the health workforce and increase access to quality care? What about in... [Read More]

Health workers in Mukono District

Constance Newman, IntraHealth International’s senior team lead for gender equality and health, presents the following case to demonstrate how the Uganda... [Read More]

About Us

CapacityPlus is a USAID-funded project led by IntraHealth International that has worked in over 20 countries to address the global health workforce shortage. In Uganda, CapacityPlus is partnering with the Uganda Capacity Program to support the Ugandan government’s efforts to strengthen its health workforce and increase access to quality care. The country has only 14 doctors, nurses, and midwives for every 10,000 people, far below the 23 recommended by the World Health Organization. By focusing on the people who provide quality care in Uganda, service delivery is improving. Other countries can make improvements by adapting the tools and approaches that Uganda has successfully used.

We’re grateful to the following people we interviewed:

Agnes Masagwayi, Clinical Health Officer, Busiu Health Center IV, Mbale District
Alex Namala, Nursing Officer, Health Center IV, Mukono District
Habiba Shaban Agong, Senior Nursing Officer, Dokolo Health Center IV, Dokolo District
Ojulun Joreme, Principal Personnel Officer, Dokolo District
Francis Ntalazi, Assistant Commissioner—Human Resource Manager, Ministry of Health
Dr. Elly K. Tumushabe, District Health Officer, Mukono District
Dr. John Baptist Waniaye, District Health Officer, Mbale District
Dr. Vincent Oketcho, IntraHealth International Country Director and Chief of Party, Uganda Capacity Program
Dr. Katumba Ssentongo, Registrar, Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council
John K. Wakida, Registrar, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council
John Baptist Semekula, Principal Personnel Officer, Mulago Hospital
Connie Achar, Nurse, Dokolo District
Levert Wafula, Senior Clinical Officer, Bushikori Christian Center/Health Center III, Mbale District 

In addition, we extend our thanks to the following: 

Allan Agaba, Madoi Ayub, Jonathan Durlam, Diana Frymus, Colby Gottert, Temitayo Ifafore, Mirembe Esther Joyce, Michael Lwetaba Lwebba, Mariamu Masese-Amadi, Rita Matte, Giuliana Morales, Patrick Mugirwa, Peter Tukei Muhumuza, David Nelson, Paul Ouma, Estelle Quain, Lois Schaefer

—Carol Bales and Sarah Dwyer

Contact Us

CapacityPlus
IntraHealth International

1776 I Street, NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 407-9473

6340 Quadrangle Drive, Suite 200
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 313-9100

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