Authors: Kora Tushune Godana, Yibeltal Kiflie Alemayehu, Negalign Berhanu Bayou, Yohannes Kebede, Peter Decat
Ethiopia’s Health Extension Program (HEP), launched in 2003 to expand access to primary healthcare, faces challenges with staff inefficiency, including absenteeism and unproductive work. This study explored why health extension workers (HEWs) struggle to use their time effectively. Interviews and focus groups revealed that HEWs often spend time on non-health tasks like community insurance, agriculture, education, and political duties. Even when present at work, they are not always productive. Key issues include lack of motivation, weak management, poor transportation, security concerns, and low community trust. The study recommends better accountability, incentives, capacity building, and improved resources to boost efficiency and service delivery.
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Resource Topic: CHW programs
Resource Type: Qualitative
Year: 2025
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Country: Ethiopia
Publisher May Restrict Access: No