Overview:
VHTs in Uganda are community-based volunteer health workers established in 2001 to link rural households with formal healthcare services. Operating in every village, they educate the community on health and hygiene, treat minor ailments, make referrals, and support maternal and child health initiatives.
The Ministry of Health and Kapelebyong District have begun distributing gumboots to 730 Village Health Teams (VHTs) across the district. The Ministry, through the National Medical Stores, provided the gumboots to strengthen the work of VHTs, whose role in community health promotion is vital. VHTs in Uganda are community-based volunteer health workers established in 2001 to link rural households with formal healthcare services. Operating in every village, they educate the community on health and hygiene, treat minor ailments, make referrals, and support maternal and child health initiatives.
According to Emmanuel Opio, Communications Officer at Kapelebyong District Local Government, the consignment will help VHTs promote health at the village level.
Several recipients of the gumboots praised the Ministry of Health for considering the protection and effectiveness of VHTs in the field. Emmanuel Akobi, Kapelebyong VHT Coordinator at Acegekuma Ward, Kapelebyong Town Council, and Kapelebyong Health Centre IV, said the gumboots will protect VHTs from waterborne infections during the rainy season. He confirmed that all 33 VHTs had received their pairs.
Robert Emmanuel Ojur, VHT Coordinator for Kapelebyong Sub-County, affiliated with St. Francis Acume, said the donation came at the right time. He explained that VHTs have worked under risky conditions, including exposure to snakes and nighttime hazards.
VHTs act as the first point of contact for health services in rural areas. They conduct home visits, monitor pregnancies, manage community health data, and distribute essential medicines. Their work strengthens Uganda’s health infrastructure and forms the foundation of the community health system.
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