Project
Clinical training programs for Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Uganda
Unit(s) of assessment: Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience; Social Work and Social Policy
Research theme: Health and Wellbeing
School: School of Social Sciences
Overview
We are designing, developing, evaluating, and optimizing new clinical training programs for Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Uganda with our partners at Makerere University. The project, led by Linda Gibson, addresses the challenges of limited training opportunities and low morale among CHWs, who play a critical role in primary healthcare delivery in low-income countries.
By upskilling the health workforce, the project significantly improved CHW retention and competency in treating childhood illnesses and widened access to healthcare services in underserved communities. We have been awarded several grants for this work. Some of these include a £5,000 start-up grant from the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), and DFID; and the Fleming Fund, a £265m UK aid programme managed by the Department of Health, to co-design a training programme on antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control.
The recent funding received to expand this flagship projects is from the Department of Health and Social Care which is about £93K for the Future International Workforce Programme.