When Kimanuka’s daughter became malnourished, he watched helplessly as she grew weaker. Today, he makes sure no family in his village has to face that fear alone. Kimanuka is a Village Health Team volunteer, or VHT, in Kamwenge District, western Uganda. VHTs are trusted community members trained to provide basic health care, share health information, and connect neighbors to clinics when they need more help. In places where the nearest health center may be hours away on foot, they are often the first and only source of care. Kimanuka, a Village Health Team volunteer with Medical Teams International A father’s fear becomes a mission Before Kimanuka became a VHT, his daughter developed malnutrition. She was enrolled in a nutrition program, where she received treatment and follow-up care, and she recovered. The experience changed him. He saw firsthand how much it mattered to catch malnutrition early and treat it quickly. Soon he was encouraging other parents to seek help as soon as they noticed warning signs in their own children. He came to believe that bringing health information and services closer to families matters, because he had lived what happens when help feels far away. Kimanuka visits a patient in his community “Everywhere I pass, people call me doctor.” Since 2023, Kimanuka has served with Medical Teams International in two neighboring villages, where he cares for about 150 people. He is also a zonal leader, supporting six other VHTs in the area. He shares health information, provides basic medicines for common illnesses that can be treated at home, and refers patients to health facilities when they need further care. His neighbors have given him a nickname. “Everywhere I pass, people call me doctor,” Kimanuka says. “It gives me a special connection and responsibility.” He isn’t a physician, but the name reflects how much his community trusts him. When someone is sick, they know Kimanuka will help them understand what’s wrong and get the care they need. Kimanuka interacting with neighbors A better future for his own children Kimanuka is also a farmer and the father of five. The monthly stipend he receives as a VHT has helped him start a small poultry farm with around 10 chickens. Most meaningful to him, it helps him send his children to school. “I am happier now,” he says. “I am able to take my children to school.” His training has also made him a better caregiver at home. He can now recognize when his own children are sick, care for them, and know when it’s time to go to a clinic. The villages in Kimanuka’s care One child’s recovery. A community’s hope. Today, with training and support from Medical Teams International, Kimanuka brings that same hope to 150 neighbors across his community — helping parents recognize illness, access treatment, and give their children a chance to grow stronger. What began with one child’s recovery has grown into something much bigger: a father empowered by Medical Teams and a calling to bring life-saving care and hope to an entire community. Previous Post « Seattle, thank you for being part of the story!