Through the Community Health Partners Coalition Uganda Limited, we sat down with Members of Parliament from the Health and Finance Committees—not just to talk policy, but to bring the realities of rural healthcare to life. We shared stories they rarely hear: like the community health worker (CHW) who walked three hours in the rain to deliver medication, or the grandmother who became her village’s health champion despite never having learned to read.
This wasn’t another technical briefing. It was a moment to put faces to the numbers—to show that CHWs are not mere volunteers, but the backbone of Uganda’s healthcare system. In places where clinics are miles away and hope often arrives on foot, CHWs are the first—and sometimes only—lifeline.
We spoke plainly about what these unsung heroes need: legal protection, ongoing training, reliable medical supplies, strong mentorship, and fair compensation. In that room, we weren’t just advocating for better policy—we were standing up for the people who save lives every day without recognition or reward.
At the press conference that followed, CHWs finally had the microphone. They shared raw, moving accounts—of sleepless nights spent with sick children, of families transformed through access to basic health services. This time, the MPs weren’t just listening out of courtesy. Their thoughtful, probing questions showed a real shift: they understood that CHWs are not a gap-filler—they are the foundation of primary healthcare in Uganda.
One parliamentarian said it best: “They are the foundation we’ve been overlooking.” As we left, it felt like a turning point—one that could finally lead to the institutional recognition and support CHWs have always deserved.
