The USAID/Uganda Family Planning Activity (FPA) addresses underlying social, cultural, and structural barriers to family planning access. For World Health Worker Week, Pathfinder sat down with some of the amazing – and inspiring – community health workers that do the work, day-to-day.
I encourage adolescents and young people to take on family planning methods so that they don’t give birth to children by chance; birth is meant to be by choice.
Joyce Nakato, FPA Youth Officer
Q: What is your full name, district/village, job name, and location?
My name is Joyce Nakato, and I’m from Kiteezi, Wakiso District, Central Uganda. I am an FPA Youth Officer for the central region, covering three districts including Butambala, Gomba, and Rakai.
Q: When and why did you decide to become a health care worker? And why specifically in the field of sexual and reproductive health?
I’ve been a social worker since 2013, and I decided to be one because of my passion for community work and the desire to see a positive change in the lives of (people in the) communities. I focus on the field of sexual and reproductive health because I believe in impacting people’s lives, offering hope to the hopeless, and being a voice for the voiceless.
Q: What do you do, day-to-day, for your job?
In my day to day, I work with adolescents and young people, including young mothers, to give them messages of hope and strength, to believe in themselves as well as boost their confidence. I make them believe that being an adolescent mother or dropping out of school at a young age doesn’t mean the end of the world for them. I also encourage them to take on family planning methods so that they don’t give birth to children by chance; birth is meant to be by choice.
Q: How do you stay informed about the advancements in your field?
I do a lot of research about my work by reading journals on sexual and reproductive health and adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health information, sharing, and service provision. I also often consult my colleagues and experts who have been in the field for longer than I have.
Q: What challenges do health workers face and how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your work?
Health workers usually have less equipment and resources (than they need), ranging from finances, infrastructure, and human resources. COVID-19 negatively impacted my work because it limited my movements and ability to check on young people due to restrictions/lockdowns that had been put in place.
Q: What can be done to address these challenges and how can they be prevented in the future?
We need to continuously lobby and work with policy makers on the benefits of supporting health workers with the basic necessities (they need) to do their work. This can motivate them to do more!
Q: What is the proudest moment in your career? Can you tell us a short story about someone you’ve helped?
The proudest moment is when I got a call from young girl from the Rakai district telling me how she had taken on a family planning service of her choice after I had taught her about each method, and the advantages of family planning. The following day, she went to a local facility and got the services immediately, without any hesitation. She called me after getting the service and I felt the excitement in my ears! This became a motivation for me to continue restoring hope and talking about family planning benefits, no matter how long it might take for one to finally take on the service.
Q: What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in sexual and reproductive health care?
I would tell them to come and join the struggle to change lives, but also to be ready to be strong – since the work is frustrating, but worthwhile, to restore hope to one that has lost hope.
I feel fulfilled when a life is saved. I take joy in seeing youth in my village transformed. They seek family planning services from me!
Robert Kiito, Village Health Team Member
Q: What is your full name, district/village, job name, and location?
My name is Robert Kiito, from Bugoye village, Butambala district, Central Uganda. I’m a Village Health Team Member (VHT).
Q: When and why did you decide to become a health care worker? And why specifically in the field of sexual and reproductive health?
I started working in 2005. I was elected by the village. It’s the village that entrusted me to be a volunteer. I ventured into sexual and reproductive health because of the prevailing challenges in our community, and to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Q: What do you do, day-to-day, for your job?
Any free time that I get I use to reach people who need my service. I am a teacher by profession so most of the time I am with children. I also lay bricks to help me earn some extra income since my post as a Village Health Team member is voluntary.
Q: How do you stay informed about advancements in your field?
I always read information, education and communication materials given to me by the district and partners like USAID/Uganda Family Planning Activity. I also get relevant information through refresher courses and workshops.
Q: What challenges do health workers face and how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your work?
There are negatives attitudes in my community. People think we serve them to get a salary. We work under risky conditions; we are exposed to several risks because we visit a lot of homes and people cannot socially distance from us. COVID-19 limited our movement, it’s hard to gather many people due to the restrictions.
Q: What can be done to address these challenges and how can they be prevented in the future?
More awareness sessions on community radios need to be organized. Printing of more information, education, and communication materials should be made. Religious leaders need to be brought on board to reduce resistance to interventions.
Q: How are you ensuring that you are well-rested and remain healthy?
I always seek health care as soon as possible, I am fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and I follow standard operating procedures in relation to COVID-19. I also enjoy using WhatsApp with friends and family to relax!
Q: What is the proudest moment in your career? Can you tell us a short story about someone you’ve helped?
I always get joy in referring patients, I feel fulfilled when a life is saved. I take joy in seeing youth in my village who were living reckless lifestyles that now have been transformed. They seek family planning services from me!
Q: What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in sexual and reproductive health care?
They should pursue this path, because the need is so big. People who join this work in the community need to be patient. And, they should have a heart to serve others, and above personal gain.
COVID-19 increased the costs of transport fares, and our clients missed appointments. We call our clients to know the reason why they missed it. If it’s possible, we send what they need to them. I was recognized at the hospital for these good practices!
Rukia Mugamb, Assistant Nursing Office Midwife
Q: What is your full name, district/village, job name, and location?
I am Rukia Mugambe Nsiima, from the Gombe, Butambala District, in Central Uganda. I am an Assistant Nursing Office Midwife working at Gombe hospital.
Q: When and why did you decide to become a health care worker? And why specifically in the field of sexual and reproductive health?
I decided to become a health worker in school because of my Mom. She was a midwife and always enjoyed delivering babies. My Mom gave me courage, so l joined.
Q: What do you do, day-to-day, for your job?
I work in maternal and child health, so l reach work in the very early in morning to greet my clients, educate about health norms, and start providing all the services they need, alongside my team members. We work hard to prevent long waiting times for patients in the hospital.
Q: How do you stay informed about advancements in your field?
I stay informed though the media, through a WhatsApp group for hospital workers, and through senior (staff members) at work.
Q: What challenges do health workers face and how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your work?
We face challenges like stock outs, limited space at our place of work, and work overload. COVID-19 increased the costs of transport fares, and our clients missed appointments. Because of COVID-19, most of our field activities, like integrated outreaches, were stopped for some time to prevent overcrowding.
Q: What can be done to address these challenges and how can they be prevented in the future?
If possible, the government should provide enough equipment for hospitals, including early restocking to prevent running out of necessary medications! We hope that the government would construct a small waiting area with shade for out clients.
Q: How are you ensuring that you are well-rested and remain healthy?
I do regular medical check ups, get enough sleep, exercise, and keep a good diet!
Q: What is the proudest moment in your career? Can you tell us a short story about someone you’ve helped?
I normally check on my clients to see if they are adhering to their medications. I call to check on their health, and for those who miss their appointments, we call them to know the reason why they missed it. If it’s possible, we send what they need to them. I was recognized at the hospital for these good practices!
Q: What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in sexual and reproductive health care?
Reproductive health is good, and it makes you feel like you are giving back to the sick and needy, which God commands us to do. To do this you have to love people and be a servant. l wish to encourage all people to join the joy of serving fellow Ugandans.
There are numerous challenges faced by health workers, including shortage of transportation to reach the underserved clients.
Wilfred Asiimwe, FPA District Activity Officer
Q: What is your full name, district/village, job name, and location?
My name is Wilfred Asiimwe. I work in Gomba-Kanoni as an FPA District Activity Officer for the Gomba district.
Q: When and why did you decide to become a health care worker? And why specifically in the field of sexual and reproductive health?
I became a health worker 2012, and specialized in the reproductive health of women and young people (starting) in 2017 because I enjoy educating them and providing health services to hard-to-reach communities.
Q: What do you do, day-to-day, for your job?
I provide health education to women and young people, and offer family planning services to the community.
Q: How do you stay informed about advancements in your field?
I read reproductive health materials provided by Ministry of Health Uganda and I refer to the World Health Organization’s Global Handbook. I also consult with my colleagues in the same profession for more updates and information.
Q: What challenges do health workers face and how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your work?
There are numerous challenges faced by health workers. They include:
- Shortages of commodities for reproductive health services
- No (or few) youth-friendly services in the health centers
- Shortage of transportation to reach the underserved clients
- Many women could not access services due to the lockdowns
Q: What can be done to address these challenges and how can they be prevented in the future?
We can take reproductive health services to villages through the VHT village health teams.
Q: How are you ensuring that you are well-rested and remain healthy?
I always eat natural foods, do exercises and get enough rest after working !
Q: What is the proudest moment in your career? Can you tell us a short story about someone you’ve helped?
One time, I went for a health talk in the community, and after the talk, I got 24 mothers who decided to use modern family planning methods, which were then provided by the health workers team!
Q: What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in sexual and reproductive health care?
To be self-motivated and know they are working on sensitive health issues for all human beings – and it’s important to learn, to consult experts, and to provide the updated services.
