James Okudi has been a humanitarian aid worker in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector for six years. He shares his sentiments on World Humanitarian Day.

My routine role is ensuring promotion and supply of safe water, hygiene, and sanitation for the persons we serve in Kyaka II and Rwamwanja settlements. I have also worked in West Nile in Bidi-bidi, Imvepi and Rhino camp refugee settlements.

Working in emergency response sometimes disconnects you from family as you are away for a while. I am, however, always inspired by the fact that my sacrifice for humanity is a personal choice, and I have a zeal for it. When the health facilities I support achieve prevention and control measures, I am motivated to do more for the communities. Serving as a humanitarian is about being empathetic and helping the vulnerable in need.

When I receive a smile from a person we serve after a community engagement or water extension showing they have received what they needed, or they are being understood and their needs considered, gives me a sense of contentment.

Through the WASH  services, many people got access to safe water, the community was empowered to take charge of their water infrastructure through creation of structures. Local leaders, opinion leaders and village health teams were trained on disease infection prevention and control in turn teaching the general community in Rwamwanja.

On the other hand, there is still need for water extension, drilling of boreholes to ensure water access for everybody and continued health education and sensitization for emerging and reemerging diseases. This is because IPC largely depends on behavior and behavior change is a process.

There are still new refugees arriving. Even when the old case load has been served to the best of our ability, the new case load strains the existing services thus creating need for expansion of most services to accommodate everyone. 

A humanitarian spirit is one any human being should have. It is in itself fulfilling to know that you have contributed to create a home for the homeless.

By James Okudi - Public Health Engineering Officer/Ag. PHE Team leader

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humanitarian action