Let's build a fairer world together
Let's build a fairer world, together
Village Health Teams: improving health, strengthening communities
The best way to educate communities in good healthcare practices is through their own people. So far, 66 local volunteers have been trained as Village Health Team workers (VHTs), spreading good health and hygiene practice in their villages, leading to fewer illnesses.
They educate their communities in treatment of common illnesses, in infant and child care, and make referrals to the Health Centre when necessary. They also encourage uptake of Government health initiatives such as vaccinations.
VHTs are a vital link between the village and the fragile Ugandan healthcare facilities, and are highly valued in their villages and local communities.
Some of our Village Health Team members
Some aspects of a VHTs work:
Teaching about hygiene in the home
here, showing families how to use the power of the sun and a drying rack to keep kitchen utensils clean
A community latrine is built in each village we work in
VHTs also encourage families to dig deep pit latrines near to their homes
Promoting wide ranging health initiatives
VHTs encourage families to take part in all available health-related programmes such as the use of mosquito nets and taking their children to the district Health Centre to be vaccinated against common diseases
How it works
Healthcare provision in Uganda relies on Village Health Teams (VHTs) to provide a crucial link between communities or households and the few Health Centres in each district. VHTs are volunteers who work within their villages, teaching their neighbours about basic hygiene and health practices, pre and post natal care, infant care and treatment of common illnesses. They are qualified to make referrals to Health Centres when needed and they help with any other health programmes being implemented in the area. They are supervised by the district Health Centres.
We are delighted to support VHT training in Lyama as part of the fight against poverty. When we started work in this area, there were no VHTs there.
Now, 66 VHTs have been trained, from the 16 villages of Lyama. They completed a one year government helathcare training programme delivered by trained Health Ministry staff, which required four weeks' full time training spread over the course of a year. All these VHTs are now active in their villages. As a result of their work, more expectant mothers have accessed maternity services, child vaccination rates have increased and severe diarrohea cases have fallen. They have also worked alongside nutritionists to help deliver the nutrition projects in the area. This involved additional training in diagnosing and treating malnutrition. This extra skill will make their impact even more effective in their communities.
Eighteen of them have progressed to higher level training, which has been completed in 2025. Three will start training to gain full nursing qualifications over the next few years.
'Be the change you wish to see in the world'
(Mahatma Gandhi)
