Hundreds gather at Action in Africa for Free Medical Services
As early as 7 a.m., Nakuwadde community members, along with their children, began arriving at the gates of The Center at Action in Africa to seek free medical services. This demonstrated their eagerness for this highly anticipated day, perfectly embodying the saying, “The early bird catches the worm.” However, around noon, heavy rainfall graced the day, briefly interrupting operations. Yet, no one wavered in their intention to receive the free services—neither the community members nor the doctors and nurses from their duties.
Annually, the Action in Africa team in Nakuwadde, Uganda, organizes two medical camps, offering free medical services: one in February and another in September. This year’s second medical camp was held on Saturday, the 7th, at The Center, with the usual high turnout of hundreds of people seeking basic healthcare services.
Some of the free services provided to the community included HIV testing and counseling, cervical cancer screening (which predominantly affects women and girls in Uganda), malaria testing and treatment, STI treatment, and red eye treatment. We extended red eye treatment due to an outbreak across Uganda since January 2024. Additionally, we offered family planning services, cough and flu medication, ulcer treatment, deworming tablets for children, anti-fungal treatment, blood sugar tests, and over 100 children received free haircuts.
For the first time, sanitary pads were distributed to all young girls in the community, who expressed immense gratitude for this initiative. Many girls struggle to access sanitary pads, which range from 3,000 to 4,000 Ugandan shillings (approximately 1 USD), a high cost for many poor families. As a result, many resort to using paper, leaves, banana fibers, or cloth, which affects their health and education during menstruation.
Among all the services, dental care was especially popular. Free examinations, root canals, composite polishing, minor and complicated cementing, fillings, scaling, extractions, and oral health education attracted many.
Miss Nabawanuka Hellen, a 33-year-old resident of Nakuwadde and recipient of dental services, shared her story. She had been suffering from dental issues for almost three months. Last year, she paid 70,000 Ugandan shillings ($19 USD) to have two teeth removed and spent over 100,000 shillings ($27 USD) on medication. However, three of her decayed teeth remained untreated due to financial constraints. When she heard about the free medical outreach, she was able to have her teeth removed and felt immense relief.
She added that what frustrates her most in hospitals is paying for services but receiving poor care. At Action in Africa, however, everything was organized and managed smoothly—and at no cost to our community. Hellen expressed her heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at Action in Africa.
