Rotarians treat 1,000 for malaria on Bukasa Islands

Oct 02, 2013

A team of Rotarians from the US and Uganda treated over 1,000 residents for malaria in Bukasa and Lwanabatya villages on Bukasa Islands.

By Tony Rujuta  

A team of Rotarians from the US and Uganda on Tuesday treated over 1,000 residents for malaria in Bukasa and Lwanabatya villages on Bukasa Islands.

The health camp was organised by Pilgrim Africa, an organisation that is running a ‘Malaria-Free Uganda Campaign,’ in conjunction with Rotary clubs.

The medical outreach which had medical teams from Kalangala and Kampala also tested residents for sexually-transmitted infections such as HIV, cervical cancer, gonorrhea and syphilis.

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A medical worker  giving out medicine to a patient as other wait. PHOTO/Tony Rujuta

Other health services held at the camp included safe male circumcision, counseling and general health education.

Ruth Kavuma, the President of the Kampala Ssese Islands Rotary Club said many residents of Ssese Islands were exposed to STIs because they lack knowledge on safe sex.

Most of the residents who attended the camp were the elderly and children.

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A medical worker attending to a patient  during the medical outreach. PHOTO/Tony Rujuta.

Among several health items distributed were insecticide-treated mosquito nets, Mama Kits, Caregiver kits for the elderly, tooth paste and brushes, malaria drugs, cough syrups.

The medical camp is part of activities involving a visiting team from the Rotary Club of Seattle, the world’s largest Rotary Club.

The Rotary Club, in partnership with Rotary Clubs in Uganda, will raise funds from members to support malaria projects under the Rotarian-Malaria Partnership.

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A patient consulting one of the medical team personnel. PHOTO/Tony Rujuta

Uganda is the second country in Africa to be chosen for the Rotarian-Malaria Partnership, after Zambia which has significantly reduced malaria cases.

In Uganda, malaria kills over 110,000 people every year and remains the largest killer of children under the age of five.

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