AIA's Lifesaving Mission: Bringing Free Medical Care to Ugandans in Need
Access to basic medical services is a major challenge in many Ugandan communities, therefore Action in Africa occasionally organizes a medical outreach program that provides the said services to the people in Nakuwadde at zero cost.
On Saturday, August 27th, the Action in Africa (AIA) gates were wide open by 9 am with tents poised and medical workers bustling and getting ready to receive anybody that sought their services.
SERVICES OFFERED
Medical services offered included General medical examinations for everyone. Unfortunately, for many, medical tests are a rare occurrence except for when they are sick, however state-of-the-art medical equipment was stationed on our porch to examine blood pressure, oxygen levels, and weight.
Counseling sessions were also available and a lot of people were glad for the mental health relief that the sessions offered them. Medical laboratory services included HIV, Hepatitis B, and Malaria testing, a negative Hepatitis B test warranted access to free Hepatitis B vaccination.
General Medical consultation services were offered and these were followed by access to free household drugs that included deworming tablets, paracetamol, and other medicines for general use at home.
HOW THE DAY WENT
The tropical sunshine lasted throughout the day with a clear sky, which surely contributed to the success of the event because by midday over 200 people had signed in for the medical outreach.
Most of the sought-out services included Malaria and HIV testing, with many mothers bringing their kids for the free malaria test and a lot of teenagers getting tested for HIV for the first time.
A lot of people that came through were new to Action in Africa but were glad to learn about our programs like the Scholarship program, Women to women program, Male network, and the general cocurricular activities in the after-class and Holidays programs.
The highlight of the day, aside from the very important medical work was most certainly the AIA barbershop for the Young children, you can be sure that someone is going back to school with the freshest haircut on the block courtesy of Action in Africa. Big smiles!
By the close of business at about 5 pm EAT, over 400 people had participated in the medical outreach program and the gates were closed due to running out of supplies.
Nothing is greater than a healthy community and we are committed to ensuring that the people in Nakuwadde continue to have access to free, basic medical services.
