Over 500 residents get free health services

Aug 18, 2019

The services offered at the health camp involved screening for heart disease, blood pressure, breast cancer, and sickle cell disease, and testing and treatment for Typhoid and Syphilis.

KAMPALA - At least 500 residents of Kansanga, a Kampala suburb, turned up for free medical services during the Rotary Family Health Day on Saturday.

The services offered at the health camp involved screening for heart disease, blood pressure, breast cancer, and sickle cell disease, and testing and treatment for Typhoid and Syphilis. 

Others services included family planning, HIV/AIDs counselling, and Malaria testing as well as treatment, blood donation and health education.  

The health camp, held at Our Lady of Mt Camel Catholic Church in Kansanga, was organized by the Rotary Club of Muyenga Sunday Sunset, in partnership with Clarke International University, Reach a Hand Uganda and Uganda Sickle Cell Rescue Fund.

Dr Rose Nanyonga, who led the health camp, told New Vision in an interview that the turn up was overwhelming, with over 500 residents showing up for free health services.

 atients having their blood pressure hoto by ilfred anya Residents having their blood pressure checked  (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)

 

Nanyonga said the focus of this year's medical camp was on non-communicable diseases among adults which are on the rise.

She advised individuals to make simple lifestyle changes covering diet and physical exercise to reduce chances of contracting the common non-communicable disease such as heart disease.

Dalton Mpumwire, the President of the Rotary Club of Muyenga Sunday Sunset said the Family Health Days offer free health services and vital screenings to underserved communities.

"As Rotarians, we don't want to stop at fellowshipping and having fun; we want to make an impact in our respective communities so that our people can live healthy, productive lives," he said.

The Rotary Family Health Days program promotes healthy living and disease prevention by implementing a massive, annual campaign in six African countries, including Uganda, South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania.

In 2018, over 70,000 patients received free health services under the initiative and this year the organisation targets to reach over 100,000 people from about 90 locations countrywide. 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});