A total of 106 Village Health Assistants (VHAs) from across Western Highlands Province’s four districts have completed a comprehensive refresher training recently, reaffirming their commitment to delivering frontline health care in their respective communities.
The volunteers, most of whom are women with only 7 males, have dedicated more than seven years of service to saving lives in areas often inaccessible to formal healthcare systems. Many of them have trekked rivers, climbed mountainous terrain, and navigated rough conditions with one goal in mind: to voluntarily help others in need.
Participants also expressed deep gratitude for the training, conducted by the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority (WHPHA), covering vital topics such as TB, HIV, nutrition, cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination, antenatal care, immunization, and supervised delivery.
The training was aimed at refreshing their knowledge and reinforcing safe practices. Emphasis was also placed on non-communicable diseases, risk factors, and prevention.
One core message throughout the training was the importance of guiding community members to proper medical care. VHAs were reminded that while they provide critical health education and referrals, childbirth must be handled at a designated health facility under supervision.
Despite facing logistical challenges such as poor roads and long travel distances, participants shared encouraging feedback: a reduction in deaths, successful referrals, and improved maternal outcomes within their communities. They spoke of their roles not just as VHAs but as a calling.
To acknowledge their sacrifices and commitment, each volunteer received bus fares, lunch, vests from WHPHA, and K26,500 worth of flex cards funded by World Vision. Additionally, Dr. Sima and Family-Lancet Writer donated K3,000 cash in appreciation to the VHAs work.
The WHPHA commended the VHAs for their resilience and spirit, stating that their work continues to bridge the gap between isolated communities and critical healthcare services.
These are not just volunteers, they are champions of hope, rising before dawn and returning after dark, fuelled not by fame or fortune, but by the belief that every life matters.
