UVP Rides

Being a Volunteer Health Team (VHT) member is an important job in the communities where UVP works. These members are members of the community and are trained to assist their fellow community members with basic health problems, helping them get to the facilities they need. They also help collect data and mobilizing organize activities for UVP and the district.

An organization called FABIO, with support from Cope Africa, has begun work in Iganga and is offering additional support for VHTs. FABIO is an environmental organization that promotes riding bicycles as opposed to other fuel-consuming modes of transportation. They have worked in Kampala, Kamuli, Jinja and are expanding their work to Iganga. The major objectives for this project are to support the VHTs in their community activities by providing subsidized bicycles and offering training to VHTs on health and environmental issues. They began their work in 2 sub-counties in Iganga- Nambale and Nawandala. UVP was happy to find out that some of our VHTs would have the opportunity to purchase a subsidized bicycle.

Titus, UVP staff member, attended the bicycle distribution event. Excitement was in the air in Nawandala sub county headquarters when the 164 bicycles were given to the VHTs.

Titus sat down with two of our VHTs who bought bicycles:

“By getting this bicycle from FABIO, my work has been simplified because am now able to reach many more households in my community than before. It will also save my time when am doing VHT work especially mobilization for family planning and HIV out reaches as well as home visits to our patients that have been referred and are on treatment. I thank Fabio and their donors for this support” .

- Nandase Zabina

“As the VHT chair person in Nambale Sub County, we are grateful and happy to get these bicycles. Our work is going to be done on time because we have our own transport. I think now our quarterly meeting and health center visits are going to increase. The bicycles have increased our motivation levels to work and we appreciate FABIO for giving us the bicycles.”

- Sagaire Malijani.

Titus engaged with the Fabio staff, thanked them for their work and encouraged them to continue their work in the other subcounties in Iganga. We hope to see even more of our VHTs have this opportunity to reach out to the members of their communities and continue their good work.