Health care to be brought to places of worship
Apr 09, 2019
Dr. Gerald Mutungi said people in the communities who cannot reach the hospital, can access services at the places of worship like the churches and mosques.
HEALTH
The Senior Medical Officer in Charge of Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs) at the Ministry of Health has said his ministry will soon embark on taking health care services to places of worship in order to entice more people who cannot access health facilities at hospitals.
Dr. Gerald Mutungi said people in the communities who cannot reach the hospital, can access services at the places of worship like the churches and mosques.
He said, "It is a good idea to partner with churches as Ministry of health, so that the people who attend church services can also get another service inform of treatment. He added that this will reduce on the burden of the disease since people will screen early for NCDS and know their status.
The Senior Medical officer in charge of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr. Gerald Mutungi shares a light moment with state minister for sports, Charles Bakkabulindi during the health camp organised on World Health Day recently. (Photo by Violet Nabatanzi)
Mutungi was speaking during the World Health day at Mutundwe, St Mark Church of Uganda.
He said, "NCDs are a rapidly growing health burden in Uganda, and many other low and middle income countries. Most people with NCDs do not know that they are suffering from NCDs such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, or heart diseases until they get stroke or heart attacks,' he added.
The Senior Medical Officer in Charge on Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr. Gerald Mutungi shares a light moment with members of the Glocal health Corps and a resident of Mutundwe during the health camp organised on World Health Day recently. (Photo by Juliet Waiswa)
In partnership with the Global Health Corps (GHC), a non-governmental organization, the Ministry of Health wants to ensure that they meet the countries target of 2030, which is access to health.
He said 2.3% of the adult population has high blood pressure, 1.2% have diabetes adding that 80% of those with the diseases do not know, he urged the population to check every time there is an opportunity.
Mutungi said Global Health Corps international and national health professionals, known as fellows, have been equipped with skills essential to effectively and ethically promote health equity and access in their placement countries and have chosen to treat residents of Kampala in Mutundwe a city suburb as part of activities to mark the World Health Day.
Martha Nabadda, a GHC fellow attached to the Ministry of Health, explained that the objective of such camps is to create awareness among the communities on the NCDs, how they can prevent them, and advise the communities on habits like smoking cigarettes and taking alcohol which are some of the causes of NCDs.
Nabadda added that improving treatment and care for people with NCDs is a crucial step toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa. "Once diseases of the rich, the prevalence of NCDs in lower-income communities has increased over the years, accounting for 40 million deaths, that is, 68% of global deaths each year".
Communities speak out
State Minister for Sports, Charles Bakkabulindi, who is part of the congregation at St Mark Mutundwe and resident in Mutundwe said that the move to bring services closer to people is the best method since some community members may fail to access facilities like Mulago National Referral.
Members of the Global Health Corps during a health camp they organised in partnership with the ministry of health. (Photo by Juliet Waiswa)
"If there is a chance of free services brought closure to the communities they should take advantage of this, Bakkabulindi said.
Josephine Byekwaso, a resident said that often time people do not go for check up until when they have broken down.
"I take time to check my health but some people do not," she said.
Gladys Namuddu, a resident said that she only checks her status when she falls sick.