Hundreds of Kikuube residents benefit from free medical camp
“We have joined this medical camp to help people. We are screening three common cancers, that is: prostate cancer, Breast cancer and cervical cancer. Why should people emphasise early screening? We have realised that when people come early, and we detect their cancers on time, they have a high chance of recovering."
A doctor taking a blood sample from Buhaguzi East MP Steven Asera Rwaitaza to test him for Prostate cancer. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)
_____________
Kikuube – The increasing disease burden among members of the community is due to late diagnosis and poor lifestyle, health experts have revealed.
According to Dinavence Kebirungi, a public health specialist at Uganda Cancer Institute, many people suffer from diseases that are curable and preventable once detected early.
She emphasised the importance of the community regularly seeking medical check-ups to detect diseases early and protect themselves against preventable, curable illnesses.
Kebirungi, leading a team of over 20 medics, made the observation during the opening of a three-day free medical camp organised by Buhaguzi East Member of Parliament Steven Asera Rwaitaza in partnership with Uganda Cancer Institute, Kikuube District Health Department and Touched Heart Uganda.
A medic listening to a woman who turned up for the medical camp in Kikuube district. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)
During this camp, medics diagnosed and treated skin diseases, sexually transmitted infections, scabies, cancer, diabetes, eye diseases, dental illnesses, back diseases, diarrhoea, ringworm and intestinal worms.
The medical camp, which started on Wednesday and ended on Saturday at Kikoboza Primary School in Buhimba town council, Kikuube district, also mobilised people to donate blood and immunised children.
Medical camp excites residents
Apollo Tumuranze, a resident of Nyamurima in Bugambe sub-county, Kikuube district, said he has been suffering from eye problems but without remedy.
Tumuranze said he was happy that the medics treated and offered him spectacles, which were difficult to get due to financial constraints.
“I am happy I have been screened, and I found myself fine, thanks to our MP and doctors who brought such services to us. Many women desire to be screened, but they cannot get the service because they have no money to transport them to distant government health facilities or to pay for private health facilities," she said.
MP Rwaitaza said the medical camp is one of the efforts aimed at promoting health and the well-being of the community.
Buhaguzi East MP Steven Asera Rwaitaza sharing with one of the locals who turned up for the medical camp. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)
He noted that on the first day of the camp, they received over 200 patients, and at the end of the camp, they expect to work on over 2,000 people during the three-day medical camp.
He noted that the health camp was initiated through Itza Community Development Foundation after they discovered that several people were suffering different illnesses for years.
He noted that at the end of the health camp, patients who are identified as requiring referrals and operations will be supported to go and seek medical care in specialised hospitals in Kampala.