Residents of Busiro County have benefited from a free medical outreach organized by the Buganda Kingdom in partnership with St Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso and a team of volunteer doctors from Canada, aimed at improving access to specialized healthcare for vulnerable communities.
The health camp focused on treating congenital conditions, non-communicable diseases, and skin disorders.
The initiative is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to ensure that residents who cannot afford specialized medical services still receive quality healthcare.
Speaking during the outreach, Buganda Kingdom Minister for Social Services and the Office of the Nnaabagereka, Choltilda Nakate Kikomeko, urged residents to abandon the habit of living with untreated illnesses.
“People today understand the importance of health, but some still get used to their illnesses, saying ‘this is my disease’ and continue living with it. I strongly urge our people to take advantage of opportunities like this to consult professional doctors, especially now that they are readily available,” she said.
The Minister praised Dr Nicholas Mugagga, founder of St. Joseph’s Hospital Wakiso and head of health services in Busiro County, for his commitment to serving the people of Buganda.
Dr Mugagga advised expectant mothers and parents to prioritize antenatal care, stressing that early medical attention during pregnancy can reduce congenital conditions.
“Women need to be extremely careful during the early stages of pregnancy because that is when many congenital conditions originate. Regular medical checkups can prevent many of these complications,” he said.
Leading the Canadian medical team, Kimit Rai said the outreach aimed to ensure those without financial means could access quality healthcare. He added that the cooperation from local hospitals and communities would motivate the team to return with more specialists.
“We have seen great cooperation here, and because of that positive experience, we are committed to bringing in more specialists to support Ugandans with various medical needs,” Rai said.
The Busiro health camp is part of Buganda Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to improve community health and strengthen partnerships with local and international medical professionals.
