Vincent Oketcho
Former Uganda Country Director
Uganda has only one doctor, nurse, or midwife for every 714 people—a critical health workforce shortage. Only 60% of public-sector positions are currently filled, and most are concentrated in the cities. Performance problems, low retention, lack of skills, poor motivation, and absenteeism abound within the health workforce.
Through this $23 million project, IntraHealth and Uganda's Ministry of Health are working together to bring the health sector's staffing levels up from 69% to 75% nationwide.
Project Initiatives
- Increase staffing and improve health care in 112 districts in Uganda, focusing specifically on the 26 districts where less than 60% of health worker positions are filled.
- Design appropriate solutions for each district’s unique HRH challenges.
- Provide districts with comprehensive packages of interventions, including human resource information systems, training, supervision support, and gender and management guidelines that make workplaces fairer and safer.
- Strengthen preservice and in-service training of health workers, focusing on the cadres in scarce supply.
- With funding from Johnson & Johnson, establish a new e-recruitment system to enhance efficiency and transparency in hiring health workers.
