A joint health outreach organised by dfcu Bank and Rotary Uganda has identified previously undiagnosed cases of hypertension and diabetes among residents of Kamwokya, highlighting the importance of routine medical screening and preventive healthcare.
About 1,085 residents received medical consultations, screening, treatment and referrals during the exercise held at Kamwokya Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The camp brought together doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel and volunteers who provided a wide range of services, including general medical consultations, diagnostic testing, dental and eye care, HIV testing and counselling, mental health support, family planning, cervical cancer screening, sickle cell testing and referrals for specialised treatment.
Medical teams also diagnosed and treated common conditions, including malaria, respiratory tract infections and diarrhoeal diseases.
Dr Alex Lwesabula, a medical doctor at Mengo Hospital and a Rotarian, said routine screening at the camp revealed that some participants were living with elevated blood pressure and blood sugar levels without knowing their health status.
“Many people do not seek medical attention until they become unwell. During the camp, we identified patients with elevated blood pressure and blood sugar levels who had never previously been tested. Early diagnosis allows patients to seek treatment and manage these conditions before they lead to more serious complications,” he said.
Hypertension and diabetes can remain undetected for extended periods, making regular screening important for identifying the conditions early and reducing the risk of complications.
71 units of blood collected
The outreach also featured a blood donation drive conducted in partnership with Mengo Hospital. Organisers had targeted 65 units but collected 71 by the end of the exercise, exceeding the target by six units.
Preliminary figures from the camp show that medical teams provided 91 dental consultations, 83 eye-care services, 59 reproductive health consultations and 46 HIV counselling sessions.
Other services included 23 breast examinations, 20 cervical cancer screenings, 18 circumcisions, 17 family planning services and 10 antenatal consultations.
The National Health Laboratory and Diagnostics Services team conducted 1,838 tests across eight diagnostic categories.
These included 478 sickle cell tests, 357 HIV tests, 307 malaria tests, 245 syphilis tests and 207 hepatitis B tests. The team also conducted 100 H. pylori tests, 50 pregnancy tests and 94 urinalysis tests.
The figures demonstrate the breadth of medical services provided during the outreach, which sought to improve access to screening, early diagnosis and treatment within the community.
dfcu reaffirms commitment to community health
Speaking during the exercise, dfcu Limited Chairman Jimmy Mugerwa said access to healthcare plays an important role in social and economic development.
He noted that the health of a population affects livelihoods, productivity and families’ ability to plan for the future, making community-based screening and treatment programmes particularly important in areas where residents may not routinely access medical services.
Mugerwa said dfcu Bank remains committed to supporting initiatives that improve community wellbeing and contribute to sustainable development.
Helena Mayanja, dfcu Bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, said the partnership with Rotary Uganda combines resources, medical expertise and community networks to make essential healthcare services more accessible.
She said the health camps provide residents with opportunities to receive screening, treatment and referrals to appropriate medical facilities.
Raymond Andrew Kalema of the Rotary Club of Kitante said Rotary had been conducting health camps in Kamwokya for the past five years, with demand for medical services increasing over time.
He said the outreach provides an opportunity for residents to access medical advice and services that might otherwise be delayed, while helping patients who need further treatment connect with appropriate healthcare providers.
Shs1 billion partnership reaches thousands
The Kamwokya exercise is part of a three-year partnership between dfcu Bank and Rotary Uganda under which the bank committed Shs1 billion to community healthcare initiatives.
The programme supports medical camps, health screening, public health education, referrals and access to specialised care.
Since the partnership began, more than 30,000 Ugandans have benefited from its activities, while 22 children from Western Uganda have received heart surgery through the initiative.
The partnership continues to support health outreach programmes in communities across the country, with a focus on preventive care, early diagnosis, treatment and referrals.
Organisers say such initiatives help bridge gaps in access to healthcare by bringing essential services closer to communities and connecting patients to further treatment where necessary.
