As a refugee, seeing people caring about your well-being is very comforting

Jolie Murihano, is a refugee and a member of the Village Health Team (VHT) in Kyaka II refugee settlement, Byabakora zone, Byabakora 6 village in Kyegegwa District.

For two years now, 40-year-old Jolie Murihano has dedicated her time to serving as a village Health Team (VHT) in Kyaka II refugee settlement, Southwestern Uganda. Jolie spends most of her time within the community, where she mobilises and sensitises households on WASH and Health related issues.

My routine work involves making home visits, health education particularly on sanitation and hygiene, health, nutrition and child care and making referrals. I was inspired by my friend to be a VHT, because she was in a position to help fellow refugees with their problems.

As a refugee, seeing people caring about your well-being is very comforting. It gives hope and makes us feel we are not alone. Sometimes, the rainy season makes it very hard to conduct home visits, as do other challenges, but being a VHT has given me an opportunity to serve the community, help single mothers, the elderly and people with disabilities.

The services provided make life easier, mothers in my community have learnt about the importance of sanitary facilities in maintaining health. 

I am also happy about being the person that unites my community, maintains, nurtures and encourages peaceful relationships among each other.

Refugees have a relatively difficult life as everything is really hard to come by. Sometimes, there are some community members that turn harsh when I am not able to help with their problems. The limited resources also make it harder to work.

More effort needs to go into improving the livelihoods so that we are able to sustain our lives because the aid reduces by day. I am very grateful to the humanitarian workers in the different organizations that commit to also improving our lives even as we far from. The work greatly improves our lives.