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Kamuli leaders have called for better healthcare planning and drug supplies.
Residents of Kagumba Sub-county in Kamuli District have asked the government to upgrade Kagumba Health Centre III to a Health Centre IV, citing long distances to health facilities, poor roads and frequent drug shortages.
The residents say some patients travel about 36 kilometres to the nearest hospital, often seeking treatment only after their conditions have worsened. Others turn to herbalists, drug shops and traditional birth attendants because of limited access to healthcare.
They raised the concerns during the third annual community health outreach camp organised by The Vine Uganda at Kagumba Seed Secondary School on Saturday.
Moreen Namwase, a village health team leader, said the large turnout at the camp highlighted the demand for healthcare services in the area.
“The overwhelming turnout today is a reminder that the people of Kagumba are far from services. We sometimes blame health workers for stealing drugs, but the reality is that the population is far bigger than the supplies they receive,” she said.
Ms Namwase said Kagumba Health Centre III also serves people who cross the River Nile from Buyende, Nakasongola and Kayunga districts in search of treatment.
She asked the government to upgrade the facility to a Health Centre IV or hospital to provide more health workers, equipment and medicines.
Kamuli District Chief Administrative Officer Ben Lawrence Marley acknowledged gaps in healthcare delivery in Kagumba and neighbouring Namasagali Sub-county, saying residents’ concerns should inform district planning.
Mr Marley said the district was considering upgrading a health facility in Bugabula North to a Health Centre IV, with Kagumba and Balawoli among the options.
He said Balawoli could serve patients along the highway, while Kagumba could improve access for residents of Namasagali and fishing communities along the River Nile.
“This awareness raised for the demand is good input, and definitely we shall take it up for better services to the people,” Mr Marley said.
He commended The Vine Uganda for complementing government healthcare services, saying community medical camps help planners identify gaps in service delivery.
“Free medical camps are eye-openers to the healthcare system planners to extend and strengthen health services to health centres at village level, where the village health teams are, so as to improve health-seeking behaviour, reduce distance, and increase availability of drugs and personnel,” he said.
Kamuli District Council chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala also commended development partners for reaching underserved communities and supplementing government services.
Mr Dhizaala urged residents to prioritise preventive healthcare through proper hygiene, sanitation and nutrition rather than waiting until they fall sick.
He said the district had directed its planner, statistician and other departments to compile accurate population data to help health facilities plan for staffing and medicines.
Reliable data, he said, would enable facilities to order medicines according to the number of people they serve and the diseases affecting them, reducing shortages and wastage caused by expired drugs.
“We need a correct database, disease surveillance and to order drugs according to population and demand. There is also a need to increase health service uptake, proximity and supplies, and take on prevention rather than curative outreach programmes,” Mr Dhizaala said.
1,083 patients treated
Richard Mwogereze, the executive director of The Vine Uganda, said Kagumba was selected for the outreach because it is underserved, has a high teenage pregnancy rate and low healthcare uptake despite its growing population.
He said the latest camp attended to 1,083 patients, including 772 who received general medical care, 204 who received eye care and 107 who received dental services.
The camp brought the total number of patients attended to through the organisation’s three annual outreach camps to 5,425. The first, held in Butansi, treated 2,227 patients, while the second, held at Kitayunjwa Seed Secondary School last year, attended to 2,115.
Mr Mwogereze added that 6,801 people had sought services across the three camps, but 1,376 had not been attended to because of limited time and resources. They were referred to nearby health facilities, where medicines were left to support their care.
The outreach also included spiritual ministry, the distribution of reusable menstrual hygiene pads, children’s activities and career guidance.
Gari Meacham, the president of The Vine Uganda, said the turnout demonstrated the need for accessible and affordable healthcare in underserved communities.
She said the organisation combines medical services with spiritual support to address the physical and spiritual needs of the people it serves.
“We are humbled that we are witnessing an overwhelming need for healthcare services. Religion can be used to prosper, build morals and values, uphold God's image, foster harmony, development and social impact, and we are here to exploit His blessings by partnering with the government,” Ms Meacham said.