In commemoration of Women’s Month, the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA), in partnership with Smart Transitions, Centenary Group Foundation, Marie Stopes, Praise Medical Center, and the Uganda Red Cross Society, organized a one-day health camp at the UMWA offices in Kisasi. Themed around women’s health, the initiative aimed at bringing essential health services closer to the people—especially women and children in Kisasi and nearby communities.
Being a female-centered organization, UMWA chose to focus this year’s Women’s Month activities on improving access to healthcare. The health camp offered free services including cervical cancer screening, diabetes and blood pressure testing, child immunization, family planning, HIV testing, and general medical consultations.
More than 200 people turned up to receive free treatment. According to Laila Ndagire, Program Officer at UMWA, the idea to hold the health camp stemmed from concerns raised by participants during various UMWA training sessions. “We realized that many people in our communities are concerned about their health but lack access to services. This camp is our way of giving back to our listeners and the community,” she said.
Dr. Gerald Byaruhanga, a gynecologist from Praise Medical Center, applauded the turnout and emphasized the importance of embracing such camps. “We’ve offered a range of services today, especially in sexual and reproductive health. These camps are essential, and I encourage the public to make use of them when available,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Naiga Kevin from Kiwatule, received family planning services and praised the initiative. “These services are often expensive in hospitals. I’m grateful to UMWA for this opportunity. I hope they continue doing these health camps so more people can benefit,” she shared.
Sarah Birungi Namudu, Executive Director of Smart Transitions, reiterated their commitment to supporting vulnerable groups, particularly young women. “Our goal is to make sexual and reproductive health services accessible through free family planning, medical check-ups for chronic diseases, HIV testing, and more. Cervical cancer screening, for instance, is quite costly in hospitals, but here it’s free,” she explained. Birungi added that the health camps would be held annually to help bridge the healthcare access gap.
The Uganda Red Cross Society, represented by Jonathan Ntabazi, a senior member from the Kampala East Branch, also participated in the camp. Their main goal was to collect blood for the national blood bank. “Blood saves lives. We urge everyone to donate, and we are working on a system called the ‘Blood Donor Equipment’ to help us reach more donors directly,” he said.
Marie Stopes Uganda also played a key role in providing family planning services and cervical cancer screening. Dr. Sali Ronald, a coordinator from the central region, shared that they use these camps to engage the community in open dialogues about myths and misconceptions surrounding family planning. “By listening to the myths and replacing them with facts, we’ve seen a significant reduction in misinformation,” Dr. Ssali noted.
The health camp showcased how collaborative efforts among organizations can bring critical healthcare services to underserved communities, especially women and children. With plans to continue these camps annually, UMWA and its partners are ensuring that healthcare truly reaches the doorstep of those who need it most.