Kamwokya residents who were diagnosed with various diseases waiting for drugs from pharmacists. Hundreds of residents in Kamwokya received free medical services on Friday, October 16, during a community health camp organised by dfcu Bank and Rotary Uganda at the Kamwokya Seventh-day Adventist Church.The day-long outreach offered general consultations, laboratory tests, eye and dental care, family planning, gynaecological services, mental health support and circumcision. Residents also accessed screening for malaria, hepatitis B, sickle cell disease, urinary tract infections and blood pressure checks.Dr. Alex Lwesabula, a medical doctor at Mengo Hospital who was part of the medical team, said more than 500 patients had been attended to by mid-day, with organisers targeting between 1,000 and 1,500 people by end of day.He said the high turnout underscored huge healthcare needs among residents, particularly those who struggle to afford routine consultations, diagnostic tests and medication.“The numbers are really huge, and that shows the health needs of our people,” Lwesabula said.He noted that medical teams identified cases of hypertension and diabetes among patients who were previously unaware of their conditions, with some having lived with high blood pressure for extended periods without diagnosis.Other common conditions included malaria, coughs and flu, which Lwesabula partly linked to poor sanitation and waterlogged areas in Kamwokya.He urged residents to embrace regular health screening to enable early detection and treatment.“Screening is part of health prevention. These people should go and screen for hypertension and diabetes,” he said, adding that early diagnosis improves chances of treatment before complications develop.Lwesabula also encouraged residents to maintain proper hygiene to reduce risk of communicable diseases. He said all services were free, with patients receiving medicines from a well-stocked pharmacy and reading glasses where needed.Reaching Vulnerable CommunitiesJimmy Mugerwa, Chairman of dfcu Limited, said the partnership with Rotary reflects the bank’s commitment to improving lives beyond providing financial services.Mugerwa, who also chairs Mengo Hospital and serves as Assistant Governor in Rotary District 9214, said the initiative brought together organisations with a shared interest in community service.“At dfcu, our purpose is to transform lives for our customers but also for businesses in Uganda. We believe we are in existence not just to provide financial solutions but to transform lives of people who support us,” he said.Mugerwa being welcomed at the eventHe said a healthy population is essential for strong families, productive businesses and national development.The camp also included blood donation services organised with Mengo Hospital. Organisers were targeting 65 units of blood and had collected about 20 units by mid-day.Mugerwa said the partners intend to continue working together on similar initiatives because community needs extend beyond a single day.The event brought together several Rotary clubs and partners including Rotary Club of Kitante, Chadondo, Blue Hearts and Medical Stars.Raymond Andrew Kalema, Vice-Chairman of the Projects Committee at Rotary Club of Kitante, said Rotary has organised medical camps in the community for about five years, with previous editions attracting an average of 500 to 600 people.He said one of the lessons from previous camps was that diagnosing illnesses was not enough if patients could not obtain prescribed medication or access follow-up care. Rotary therefore prioritises stocking medicines to ensure beneficiaries receive treatment.Beyond healthcare, the organisation has supported other community initiatives including installation of water pumps to improve access to clean water.Kalema called on more companies to support community health programmes, saying partnerships such as that with dfcu help extend essential services to people who might otherwise go without care.Sickle Cell AwarenessThe camp also reinforced dfcu’s commitment to raising awareness about sickle cell disease.Mugerwa said the bank will continue supporting sickle cell services through proceeds from its annual dfcu Sickle Cell Walk, known as Hope in Motion.He said the effort goes beyond treatment to encouraging testing, increasing public awareness and reducing stigma associated with the condition.Relief for PatientsFor some beneficiaries, the camp provided an opportunity to seek answers to health problems they had struggled to resolve.Tabu Bannard, a resident of Namugona, said he had spent over a year seeking treatment for a persistent skin condition, spending around Shs120,000 in clinics without improvement.He attended the Kamwokya camp after a friend informed him about free services and received assessment and medication.“I have been trying several times from a certain clinic; they are giving me different tubes, but without any difference,” Tabu said.Bannard speaking to our reporterHe urged other young people to take advantage of free medical outreaches.Beatrice Nyabahimana, a resident of Church Area in Kamwokya, said she attended the camp with leg pain and malaria symptoms and received treatment.“I was happy they have worked on me well,” she said, thanking dfcu and Rotary for bringing free medical services closer to residents.Beyond a One-Day CampThe initiative highlights role of partnerships between financial institutions, service organisations and healthcare providers in extending medical services to communities facing barriers to routine care.While the camp offered immediate consultations, screening and medication, health professionals emphasised importance of continued follow-up, early diagnosis and preventive healthcare.Mugerwa said organisations will need to return to the community with further initiatives, noting that number of people reached during one day remains small compared to broader healthcare needs.The partnership’s longer-term impact will depend not only on number of people treated during outreach, but also on whether those diagnosed with chronic or serious conditions can access continued care.The post Committed to Improving Lives: dfcu, Rotary Medical Camp Offers Free Healthcare to Hundreds in Kamwokya appeared first on Business Focus.