Nicholas A
Village Health Teams (VHTs) in Rukungiri District have expressed concerns over the lack of essential materials needed to effectively carry out their duties in controlling diseases at the village level. Despite their commitment to saving lives, the VHTs say their efforts are hindered by the government’s failure to provide the necessary tools and resources.
In an interview with our reporter yesterday, an anonymous VHT member from a village in Nyabushenyi Parish, Nyarushanje Sub County, Rukungiri District, shared the challenges they face due to insufficient supplies. The VHT member cited the lack of basic materials such as VHT kits, gumboots, and solar energy, which are available to VHTs in other districts. He emphasized that the lack of these materials undermines their efforts to serve the community effectively.
“We are dedicated to our work, but the lack of support in terms of materials seriously affects our ability to perform our duties,” the VHT member said. He urged the Ministry of Health to step in and provide the necessary support, noting that VHTs work voluntarily to save lives.
In response, Dr. Alban Natukunda, the Rukungiri District Health Educator, acknowledged the challenges faced by the VHTs. He explained that the district received VHT kits, but due to limited resources, the government initially provided supplies for only one VHT per village. These supplies included kits, T-shirts, and thermometers. However, the district did not receive enough gumboots, leading to the distribution of these items to only one VHT in each village.
Regarding the issue of mobile phones, Dr. Natukunda clarified that phones are currently being used in districts where VHTs are involved in the Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM) program, which requires them to submit reports to the Ministry of Health. He noted that the ICCM program has not yet been implemented in Rukungiri District, but assured that they are advocating for its introduction.
The VHTs’ plea for additional support highlights the ongoing challenges faced by health workers in rural areas, emphasizing the need for improved resource allocation to enhance healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
