News
Sunday, June 05, 2016
Airtel, Huawei extend health services
KAMPALA, UGANDA - Around 1000 residents of Mulago and Kalerwe on the city suburbs of Kampala received free medical services as part of the cooperate social responsibility by Airtel and Huawei Technologies in partnership with local NGO Hinds feet’s project.
The health camp aimed at supporting slum dwellers to access free and quality medical services especially those who cannot afford to pay for health services.
At the medical camp, members of the community got free services for Hepatitis B screening and shots, dental, eye checkups and general medicine, Screening for HIV, diabetes, ulcers, blood pressure, syphilis, hepatitis B and malaria. The health fair also included safe male circumcision as well as free cancer screening services.
Dr Victor Afayo , Senior Medical Officer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Mulago Hospital said such health camps are vital because they attract good large number of the population from the marginalised communities and this easies the diagnosing and treating of various Infections and diseases in the community .
“The Government policy on Health Services is for all Government health facilities to offer free health services to the nationals, but members of the public from economically marginalised communities are not accessing quality health services because of transport to health facilities and also lack of Information but when community health camps are brought near the marginalised communities this helps them to access to quality health services,” Afayo said.
He added that under health camps the medical personnel and other health teams reach big number where they can sensitize the public on how to stay safer especially to the teenagers who are prone to Acquiring sexual transmitted diseases and early pregnancies.
Airtel Uganda Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Charity Bukenya said “ Airtel as company their committed to Improve their clients and the general ,public lives , not only by providing them with affordable and reliable telecommunications solutions, but also by increasing knowledge on general health and the use of preventive health services to help them live healthy lives.”
She promised that Airtel in partnership with other working other partners will continue to reach out to other communities in Uganda to offer them free medical and Health services
Huawei Uganda Sales Manager Ni long said “Apart from providing the best ICT solutions to our customers, Huawei Technologies also enriches lives by giving back to communities where we operate.”
This is the second time Airtel Uganda is holding a community health fair in 2016. In January this year, Airtel Uganda held a community health fair at Ezuko Primary School in Kabale district. But this was fall up onwhat the giant telecom company did last year.
Sandra Muhanuka the Director Hinds Feet project says that since the two Institutions partnered (Airtel and Hinds Feet project) last year over 5000 local have benefited from the free medical and Health services the two Institutions have been offering to the general public.
By Samuel Nabwiiso, Sunday, June 05th, 2016