Topics: Community health workers, Country ownership, Motivation/incentives, Program evaluation, Supervision, Training

Region and Country: Uganda

This situation analysis documented the status of Village Health Teams (VHTs) in Uganda in 2009, including their numbers, functionality, and activities. It was intended to serve as a surrogate baseline for districts, many of which have little or no documentation of VHT implementation. The authors carried out both a desk review and field visits relating to Village Health Teams and community health interventions in Uganda. They found that 62 districts have trained VHTs but coverage and quality varies. They conclude that VHTs can and do save lives, but that their impact could be more dramatic if activities were better planned and focused on evidence based high impact interventions. They note as well that VHTs are motivated by non-monetary factors such as recognition and appreciation, in addition to financial support.