Walking the extra mile for Ondore

“These people have no one but me, and I cannot disappoint them,” says community health worker Kakuva Uetuezembisa.

He walks from one household to another at Ondore village in the Kunene region to check on children, visit pregnant women, and help families access healthcare.

Uetuezembisa was speaking during a visit to the village, where he highlighted the challenges of providing healthcare services to a community of more than 400 people, including about 79 children.

He says although the work is difficult, he remains committed to helping people in need.

“The work is difficult, but I’m happy that I’m helping to save lives,” he says.

Uetuezembisa also links villagers to district hospitals when they need further treatment.

He says access to transport, however, remains a major challenge for families who need referrals or must return to health facilities for follow-up appointments.

Some patients miss appointments because they cannot afford or find transport, while others reach hospitals only to discover that medicines or medical supplies are not available.

Overcrowding at health facilities also contributes to long waiting times, with some patients returning home without receiving the care they need.

These challenges limit the work of community health workers, who can identify health concerns and encourage patients to seek treatment but cannot guarantee that the required services would be available when they reach a hospital.

Despite these difficulties, Uetuezembisa says he is encouraged by the health of the children at the village, noting that no child at Ondore is malnourished.

He also acknowledges the support provided by the United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef), including equipment, a uniform and boots to help him carry out his daily duties.

Deputy minister of health and social services Hambelela Ndjaleka says community health workers play an important role in bringing healthcare closer to people in the country’s remote areas.

“Community health workers are an important link between our communities and the healthcare system. We need to ensure that people in remote areas can access the healthcare services they need,” she says.

She was recently speaking during a visit to Ondore village, where residents appealed for a health post to reduce the distances they travel to access healthcare.

The deputy minister listened to the community’s concerns and promised to look into the request.

With district hospital outreach services expected to visit the village once a month, residents’ access to healthcare will depend partly on the availability of these services and the effectiveness of referral and follow-up arrangements.

Unicef country representatives also pledged continued support for the community health worker programme and efforts to improve access to essential services for children and families.

For Uetuezembisa, the responsibility remains personal. Every household he visits represents someone who may need help navigating a healthcare system that is often beyond their immediate reach.

As he continues walking from household to household, his plea is a reminder that community health workers cannot shoulder the responsibility of keeping people healthy alone.

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