Over 1500 people have benefited from a two-day free health camp which closed on Saturday.
The health camp which was held at the Rukurato buildings in Hoima City was organised by Omugo (Queen) Margret Karunga Adyeeri of Bunyoro Kitara-Kingdom.
It was prepared in partnership with Hoima Hospital, Baylor Children Foundation, Red Cross, Uganda Blood Bank, Down syndrome, Marie Stopes Uganda, and Mothers’ Union, Stanbic Bank, Equity Bank.
The free medical care offered involved fistula treatment, Hepatitis B, cervical, prostate and breast cancer screening, dental care, eye screening and treatment, family planning services, blood donation, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, among others.
Under the theme “good families’ good health”, the Omugo launched this camp to assist kingdom subjects who cannot easily access health care services especially those in hard-to-reach areas.
“The medical camp is timely because it comes at a time when the general population in the kingdom cannot access health services due to the ongoing medical workers’ industrial action,” Omugo said.
The Omugo said with many developments going on in the kingdom to produce oil such as road construction projects and agro-processing factories, people have to be alive and healthy in order to benefit from the aforesaid development programmes.
However, the Omugo who had kingdom officials in tow, advised the government to get a suitable solution concerning medical professionals’ strike and reprimand the corrupt medical workers who allegedly sell drugs in government health facilities.
The Personal Assistant Secretary and Programmes Director of the Omugo Development Foundation, Princess Daphine Kabatalesa, said that the health camp is one of the many goals of the foundation like nurturing the Bunyoro culture under”Issenkati Oraha,” meant to instill morals among the youth.
Others, she said, are sustainable green economy-to advocate for tree planting to conserve the environment and Omukuma Nfuuzi, an initiative which cares for the orphans.
The free health camp which will be organised annually covering all the eight districts of Bunyoro which include Hoima, Kikuube, Masindi, Kibaale, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kiryandongo and Buliisa.
Patrick Katende, the kingdom minister for Education and Health in the kingdom, implored subjects to do routine medical checkups to know their health status, adding that it is the only way someone can protect his or her life.
Mable Mbabazi, a resident of Kasingo cell, Hoima East Division, who had come for dental care services, expressed joy for getting free services and appreciated the Omugo for the good initiative.
Hoima City Mayor, Brian Kaboyo urged city dwellers to do physical exercises to reduce health risks and increase their chances of living long.