Vision Group health camp gets underway in Kampala

Vision Group has partnered with 14 medical institutions in the country to provide free services to thousands of people at what is dubbed the second mega health camp, has opened this morning in Kampala.

The CSR initiative is aimed at improving the quality of life in Uganda.

Joseph Banyu the Vision Group CSR coordinator said the move is aimed at bringing services closer to people.

The camp at Railway Grounds along Jinja Road will provide a variety of health services including voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling, free male circumcision, cancer screening especially breast and cervical cancer, nutrition assessment, eye care check-ups and orthopaedic services. 

A woman gets her blood pressure checked on Thursday morning. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

Other medical services include family planning, dental care, Hepatitis B testing and treatment at a reduced fee, sexual reproductive health, diabetes testing, body mass index, malaria testing and blood donation.

Last year Vision Group organized a health camp at Centenary Park in Kampala and it attracted about 4000 people. According to Banyu, the camp targets reaching 10,000 people in Kampala. 

Some of the partners include CORSU Rehabilitation Hospital, Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, UMC Victoria Hospital, Uganda Cares, International Medical Group, Taimex Nutrition Centre, Kays Dental Clinic, Aga Khan and Ian Hutcheon Clinic for Children. 

Others are Dr Agarwal's Eye Hospital, Reproductive Health Uganda, Uganda Cancer Institute, Uganda Women's Cancer Support Organization, among others. 

Banyu said that this is one of the ways Vision Group gives back to the communities.

"We encourage all Ugandans within the Kampala Metropolitan area to come for the free medical services" Banyu said.

He said that by bringing services closer to the people it encourages people to always carry out medical checks. 

He added that medical services like consultation from doctors at hospitals in the country are expensive and this is why Vision Group partnered with medical institutions to bring such services closer.