The Good Doctor (to be... ) A Hero's Journey
Since 2017, Action in Africa has been holding periodic Medical Outreach camps in the community of Nakuwadde. Free health services are provided to hundreds of community members, mostly vulnerable children and women. The services range from full body medical checkups, to vaccination to provision of basic medication like vitamins and deworming tablets. Recently, we held one more such camps, in partnership with medical service providers Baris Health Services and Alive Medical Services. The turnout was very high as usual. Today, we would like to highlight someone who has been part of these medical outreaches for a long time and will soon become one of the medical professionals.
Swabrah Nakamatte is an Action in Africa Scholarship Student. We recently introduced her to you as an intern who would be joining the University Scholarship program. She is currently studying a pre-medical course at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. For the last three years, Swabrah has been part of a group of young people who have volunteered to support the AIA Medical Camp. She shared her experience and motivation for participating in the AIA Medical Camp, and why it is a very essential program.
“Before I joined the Action in Africa Internship program, I used to come for the annual medical outreach to get medical services like malaria testing and deworming tablets just like other community members, but since I finished high school and became an AIA intern, I have actively participated in three medical outreaches, where I have volunteered to help out in filling medical forms, feedback and assisting community members register for the free medical services. I am very proud of my role in this activity, and I am also very excited for when I graduate from medical school and start giving medical services to my community too.
“I am convinced that this medical outreach program is important to save lives. I once lost a classmate to hepatitis B, and that was the first time we were ever told by our school that we should get vaccinated from that disease. Perhaps if our friends had known this before, they wouldn't have lost their lives. The AIA medical outreach carries out vaccination against hepatitis b. This extension of free health services would probably otherwise be inaccessible to people. It not only provides convenient access to health services, but also directly saves lives.
“Participating in the outreach is also partly what inspired me to pursue a medical career because even now, I feel like I am saving lives. Every time women walk into the AIA centre and are screened for cervical cancer, I am saving lives, because early detection of diseases is usually the first step to recovery. The Medical screening and check-ups offered at the centre are vital, especially in a community like mine where medical checkups are not something people do because they consider it an ostentatious expenditure. So even before I become a doctor, at least I am contributing to the healthy living of the people of Nakuwade.”
Swabrah is another one of Action in Africa’s Heroes because she continues to dedicate her time to saving lives and supporting wellness in Nakuwadde. Her passion for the medical profession inspires us to continue our work. To create community champions of health. We wish her all the best as she embarks on the pursuit of her medical career. You can read more about the Action in Africa Medical Outreach here
