by Katharine Lewis
BRAC Uganda Intern
Having mostly worked in Tanzania and Kenya, I felt eager and thrilled when I secured a research project for this summer with BRAC Uganda. When I excitedly arrived in Uganda in May, I was not sure what to expect. However, stepping off the plane, Uganda felt already familiar to me –inhaling the raw, earthy air brought back a flood of affectionate memories.
BRAC began working in Uganda in 2006 as an operational NGO. Currently, their Essential Health Care program seeks to increase access to healthcare and improve health conditions. The program has established 85 health offices and has trained 1,700 community health promoters (CHPs) who reach 340,000 Ugandan households.
BRAC’s volunteer female community health promoters play a central role in the health program. The CHPs have a variety of responsibilities –educating individuals about primary and reproductive health issues, increasing awareness, implementing behavioral change, to selling products below market price as needed to members.
As an added incentive, the CHPs are able to earn a small profit from of the health goods they sell. Consequently, the success of the health program heavily relies on the motivation and capacity of the community health promoters to carry out their intended actions and deliver appropriate services.
As an added incentive, the CHPs are able to earn a small profit from of the health goods they sell. Consequently, the success of the health program heavily relies on the motivation and capacity of the community health promoters to carry out their intended actions and deliver appropriate services.
Community Health Promoters in BRAC UGANDA
While evaluation tools to monitor the CHP's work have been developed and implemented by BRAC, models targeted at the community as part of the CHPs monitoring process have not been effectively employed in Uganda. The community is an untapped, invaluable resource which has the potential to ensure the accountability of the CHPs and the success of the program.
Therefore, my research project, an exploratory, qualitative assessment sought to study two specific issues: one, the possibility of community involvement as a feasible option in the monitoring of community health promoters (CHPs) and two, the correct and transparent information flow between BRAC, CHPs, local government and the community.
My research involved an extensive background literature review on community participation strategies and a plethora of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with community members, local government, NGOs, CHPs, and BRAC management.
Working with BRAC this summer in Uganda has further inspired me to commit myself to working in public health in Africa and has expanded my interests to include community participation strategies. I never ceased to be impressed at how well the BRAC management and employees tirelessly ran the health program and was constantly motivated by their tenacity and determination to make the program successful.
Therefore, my research project, an exploratory, qualitative assessment sought to study two specific issues: one, the possibility of community involvement as a feasible option in the monitoring of community health promoters (CHPs) and two, the correct and transparent information flow between BRAC, CHPs, local government and the community.
My research involved an extensive background literature review on community participation strategies and a plethora of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with community members, local government, NGOs, CHPs, and BRAC management.
Working with BRAC this summer in Uganda has further inspired me to commit myself to working in public health in Africa and has expanded my interests to include community participation strategies. I never ceased to be impressed at how well the BRAC management and employees tirelessly ran the health program and was constantly motivated by their tenacity and determination to make the program successful.
Experiences such as being invited to a local CHP’s home to casually attend a family gathering with her after a group discussion with CHPs, being surprised by the openness and frankness exhibited by the local government officials when speaking about their work, clutching the seat while riding on local motorcycles called “boda bodas” to reach rural communities, will forever be in my memory. I look forward to hearing more as the program in Uganda continues and am grateful that I was able to have such an enlightening and enriching experience.
Katharine Lewis is pursuing her Masters of Public Health from Harvard University
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