Training and Employee performance in health sector of Buhweju District Local Government

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study concentrated on the influence of training on employee performance in the health sector in Buhweju district local government. It was guided by the following objectives; to establish health workers perceptions towards training programs, to find out the nature and organization of health workers training, to assess the health workers performance and to establish the strategies that can be adopted to improve health workers performance in Buhweju district local government respectively. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design consisting of both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study population consisted of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), human resource officers, district secretary for social services, chairperson LCV, Chairperson LC IIIs, sub county chiefs, NGOs Leaders, health inspectors, RDC, DHO, health workers at health Centre IV and health Centre IIIs. A sample size of 108 respondents was used. Questionnaires, interviews and a documentary review checklist were used during data collection. The researcher used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) during data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that, most of the employees were aware of the existence of the training programme while few of them never noticed its existence. On the other way, to some extent the identification of training needs was administered, but also it has been evidenced that the selection of employees in some cases didn‟t prove to have elements of fairness and transparency as there were a lot of complaints from employees insisting that the selection of employees for training was dominated with unfair acts including elements of corruption and favoritism. The study revealed that both on job and off job training programs existed in the area. The management therefore has to play a key role by making sure that there is an identification of training needs which will enable an organization to implement training programme well since it will be able to identify the existing gaps which holds back the organization from achieving its objectives. The management should make sure that there is cost sharing between the trainees and the organization at large. This will enable the organization not to incur a lot of costs in training of its employee but also the employees could have a backup from their employers to attain an effective training programme. The findings recommended that all health workers need to be trained especially the ones with little experience in executing the health service delivery need to be given a priority. By doing this, the process of training in the health sector will be streamlined and made transparent