Lungile Hlophe Empowered to Serve Simemeni Community Through Health Education
For Lungile Hlophe from Simemeni under Maseyisini Inkhundla (constituency), the desire to serve her community and improve lives has always been there. But she didn’t have the knowledge and skills to make that dream a reality until a training in her constituency gave her the capacity to realise her dream.
“I’ve always had a passion to serve my community,” she said. “But before the training, I had no knowledge at all about health, especially when it comes to mothers and children. I just didn’t know how to help.”
That all changed when Lungile joined 49 other Rural Health Motivators (RHMs) for a 12-week training programme, facilitated by the Ministry of Health and supported by World Vision Eswatini through its Maseyisini Area Programme. The comprehensive training covered key areas, such as maternal and child health, sanitation, hygiene, non-communicable diseases, and environmental health.
“I learned so much, including how to teach families about proper hygiene, how to help mothers care for their babies, and how to encourage people to seek medical care early. I feel empowered now,” she said with a smile.
With this new knowledge, Lungile is eager to return to Simemeni and start making a difference. She believes that simple information shared in homes, community gatherings, and during routine health monitoring can save lives.
“The lives of people in my community will change for the better,” she said confidently. “I am ready to teach them what I have learned and help them live healthier lives.”
The training came at a time when the RHM Progamme is faced with some challenges, including a growing number of communities left without RHMs due to retirement and death.
World Vision Eswatini’s support of this training is part of its commitment to strengthening community health systems, in partnership with the Ministry of Health. Through dedicated RHMs like Lungile, rural communities will have access to essential health services and renewed hope for healthier lives.