Where We Work > Africa > Uganda

Uganda

IntraHealth is supporting the efforts of the Ugandan government and national health associations to recruit, train, and manage health workers. Uganda has only one doctor and 13 nurses for every 10,000 people, and only about half of approved nursing positions are filled in public health facilities. Addressing this challenge includes better tracking and supporting the existing health workforce, finding ways to retain health workers in rural and remote areas, and strengthening the country’s health professional schools.

One major area of focus is improving the information systems used to record, maintain, and analyze data on health workers. IntraHealth has assisted the Ministry of Health and four health professional councils to transition from outdated paper-based systems to computerized human resources information systems (HRIS) using IntraHealth’s open source iHRIS software suite. The Ministry of Health is using iHRIS Manage to design and administer a comprehensive human resources strategy within the ministry, at facilities in 32 districts, and at two national hospitals. The professional councils are using iHRIS Qualify to track health workers’ licensing and certification as well as the number of health workers lost through attrition. The new systems are making it easier to pay salaries, recruit new workers, fill open positions, and ensure health workers have the proper qualifications.

In addition to training local staff to use the iHRIS software, IntraHealth collaborated with Makerere University’s Department of Computing and Information Technology to launch an internship program through which IT students provide assistance to maintain and adapt the software. This program offers a sustainable approach to support iHRIS despite the shortage of local IT experts.

IntraHealth is also working with the Ministry of Health to develop policies and guidelines that ensure health workers are provided with a safe working environment, continuing medical education, and support from regional and national health managers. Other key activities include partnering with the ministry and Makerere University to launch a management training course for new supervisors; enhancing the ability of nursing and midwifery schools to identify barriers to increasing health worker production; and providing evidence for policy-makers to use as they develop incentive packages and compensation policies to encourage retention of health workers, especially in rural areas.

Current Projects:

• Uganda Capacity Program (funded by USAID, led by IntraHealth)
• CapacityPlus (funded by USAID, led by IntraHealth)

Past Projects:

• Capacity Project (funded by USAID, led by IntraHealth)
• PRIME II Project (funded by USAID, led by IntraHealth)
• DISH II (funded by USAID, supporting partner)

Contact

Vincent Oketcho
Chief of Party, Uganda
voketcho@intrahealth.org
256-414-347-959

More information is available in the country brief.