Kawempe Locals, VHTs, Urged To Join Efforts In Battle Against Waterborne Diseases

By Gad Masereka

Purpose Health Care Africa has today held a Local Stakeholders Engagement Meeting at Kawempe Division Headquarters, aimed at strengthening the capacity of Village Health Teams (VHTs) to combat waterborne diseases in Kampala’s slums by addressing key issues such as waste management, the impact of climate change, flooding, and the high prevalence of waterborne diseases in these vulnerable communities.

While addressing the congregation, the Executive Director of Purpose Health Care Africa, Daraus Bahikire, emphasized the urgent need to reinforce Village Health Teams’ (VHTs) efforts at the household level to prevent improper waste disposal from blocking drainage systems, which often results in flooding and a spike in waterborne diseases.

“We are here to support VHTs by implementing a community-driven waste management education campaign,” said Bahikire. “Flooding due to poor waste disposal directly contributes to waterborne diseases like typhoid and cholera, especially in slums areas.”

Bahikire further noted that the project would adopt a new approach by introducing household clusters, each comprising 10 households monitored and educated by a health volunteer to promote behavioral change and ensure better waste disposal practices in slum areas.

During the discussion, waste management was highlighted as a major issue, with poor rubbish disposal in slum areas like Kawempe, Bwaise, and Makerere, worsened by heavy rains and climate change, causing clogged drainage, flooding, and an increase in waterborne diseases.

Bernadette Bainomugisha, the Project Coordinator of Purpose Health Care Africa, also highlighted the importance of empowering VHTs and providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge to handle the challenges presented by climate change. “Our mission is to enhance community resilience against health challenges posed by climate change,” she said.

She further stated that their project, which began on 15th September and will run for 18 months, will be expanded to other slum areas in Kampala if successful. “By the end of this project, we expect to see a big reduction in waterborne diseases and an improvement in waste management practices,” She added.

The Deputy Mayor of Kawempe Division, Mr. Bakojja Badru, lauded PHCA management and pledged the division’s support in rolling out their project. “Kawempe has faced challenges with waste management and flooding for a long time. This project is timely and will greatly benefit our communities,” he said.

The stakeholders present also agreed that educating the public on waste disposal and proper hygiene practices would be key to preventing future outbreaks of diseases.

Bainomugisha emphasized that the project is people-centered, with active involvement from the local communities to ensure long-lasting behavior change.

In addition to training health volunteers, Purpose Health Care Africa promised to install more waste collection bins in targeted areas to support the efforts of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) .