By The Insight Post Uganda
Mukono-
Seventy-five-year-old Livingstone Ddumbaganyi, a resident of Zziba Village in Ngogwe sub-county, Buikwe District, has struggled to access basic medical services despite living close to Ngogwe Health Center III.
For over five months, he has been travelling four kilometres on foot to seek orthopaedic services at the unit, but to no avail. Even the painkillers were not available to alleviate his painful condition.
An orthopaedic condition is any condition that affects the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and causes significant pain or discomfort.
These include arthritis, fractures, sprains, strains, tendinitis, bursitis, and herniated discs. These conditions can often limit a person’s mobility and affect their quality of life. Treatment options can include medications, physical therapy, and surgery depending on the severity of the condition.
Ddumbaganyi was about to give up hope after months of unsuccessful attempts. However, fate had other plans for the youngster.
When the Rotary Club announced its ‘Family Health Day’ outreach program, Ddumbaganyi decided to give it one last try. Despite his initial reluctance, Ddumbaganyi’s fortunes were about to improve.
As he arrived at the outreach program, Ddumbaganyi could hardly contain his emotions. He had finally found hope after months of despair.
The Rotary Club had organized a team of doctors and nurses who provided him with much-needed medical attention. His orthopaedic condition was treated, and he received medication to ease his pain.
Ddumbaganyi’s life had taken a turn for the better, thanks to the Rotary Club’s ‘Family Health Day’ outreach program. He was grateful for the opportunity to receive medical attention, and he felt hopeful about the future.
This week, the Rotary Club of Seeta, along with other clubs, organized a 2 day-national family health camp at Ngogwe Health Center III bringing a glimmer of hope to Ddumbaganyi and many others in the community.
During the health camp, he received a medical checkup and examination from a doctor who prescribed the necessary medication for his painful orthopaedic condition. This was a significant relief for little villager, who had almost given up hope of ever receiving medical attention.
The outreach also offered free medical checkups, examinations, and treatment for various other health conditions, including dental and ophthalmic services.
Like Ddumbaganyi, Josephine Nalwadda Mayanja, a resident of Nangunga in the same sub-county, had also lost hope in the health facility. But her hopes were restored by the outreach. She received a body checkup and medicine for various ailments for her family members.
For Nalwadda, the outreach was a miracle, as she had previously only received care, counselling, and referrals at the Ngogwe HCIII.
According to her, referrals were not a viable option due to financial constraints, and the only best alternative for her problem was to resort to local herbs. The outreach provided a real solution for her and many other community members.
The assessment done by the Rotary Club of Seeta shows that most of the residents at Ngongwe are low-income earners basically surviving on subsidiary farming, yet the sub-county has one health facility with a big catchment area, small with less or no drugs on top of having limited staff.
Stella Namisango, a Senior Public Health Officer and the President Rotary Club of Seeta, says residents find it a problem to travel from their residential homes to the facility for health services.
“Many people have been yearning for treatment and they managed to attend the outreach. So far several hernia surgeries succeeded, five safe male circumcisions made and several cases handled and none required a referral,” she noted.
According to Lillian Matovu, the Outreach Host Contact Person, the majority who turned up for the health camp were mainly women and elderly persons suffering from cases of ulcers and hypertension, and among children, malaria was common.
Rotary Governor
Mike Kennedy Ssebalu, the Rotary Governor for District 9213, stated that the Ngogwe family health camp is just one of several such events that will take place throughout the country. The focus of these outreach programs is on public health, sanitation, personal hygiene, and testing among community members.
The ‘Rotary Family Health Days’ are national health campaigns that offer free health screenings and referrals, including screenings for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes, and some cancers such as cervical and breast cancer.
He adds that the program also provides pre-and post-test counseling, educational materials, immunisations for diseases such as polio and measles, and distribution of consumable items.
HCIII In-charge
Oliver Naikoba, the In-Charge of Ngogwe HCIII, praised the Rotary Club for their initiative, stating that it helped to solve several cases that required surgeries such as hernia and circumcision, which their facility could not manage.
She explains that the facility was designed to accommodate a small population, which has increased significantly. On a daily basis, they attend to over 60 people at the out-patient department, and on a monthly basis, they register over 70 deliveries.
Naikoba expressed hope that once the government upgrades the facility to the level of an HCIV, they will receive improved infrastructure, more staff, quarters, an incinerator, and medicine. Currently, the facility has only one toilet that accommodates all clients, male and female.
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