“Residents of Namichelo village Bukiende Sub-county were among those grappling with accessibility issues to medical services since they had to travel for more than 15km to Bukiende Health Center III for medication. One of the shortest routes was cut off following the heavy rains that leveraged the bridge along its course. Those seeking services at the facility depend on alternative routes which are more distant. It takes a critical illness for one to seek medical attention in the distant facilities. As a result, patients reach the hospital when the conditions are in advanced stages”.
“We journey to this Health Center to find out what happens there and on reaching we found the facility closed. And we were informed by the area LC 1 Chairperson that the officer on duty failed to make it to the Health facility after his motor bicycle broke down. We were also informed that patients had earlier gathered here but they dispersed after receiving the information that the officer-in-charge wouldn’t be available to attend to them. The LC 1 Chairperson had to stay behind to inform incoming patients to try elsewhere. “We have advised them to go to the nearest Health Centers like Nyondo and some small units like the drug shops.” The next Health facility was about 30km. Residents also said that they often missed out on drugs after moving long distances due to drug stock-outs. “When they get the complicated diseases, they refer to buy or to go to another unit which can handle that case.”
To supplement the government’s effort, the Rotaract Club of Mbale with a partnership with Rotaract Club of Kasangati and Reproductive Health Uganda extended health services to the people of Namichelo village Bukiende Sub-county through a Community Health Camp. Hundreds braved the sun to get free medical attention in addition to other services. “But the main purpose we are here is to provide a sensitization and sort of Community Empowerment in Health Care issues. If you have an empowered community that knows about health and about how to take care of their health then you are able to achieve a healthy community.” Specialized services including general consultation, cancer screening, family planning, counseling and distribution of pads to girls were provided free of charge. Fruit-tree seedlings were also distributed to the community to preserve the environment.
