NWOYA WELCOMES FREE MEDICAL OUTREACH WITH MASSIVE TURNOUT

Resident who turned up for the medical camp waiting to be served under the tree.

By Odong Stephen

Gulu City

A five-day free medical outreach organized by Women Rise Uganda has commenced in Nwoya District, attracting hundreds of residents seeking essential healthcare services.

The outreach, running from Monday, July 6, to Friday, July 10, 2026, is taking place at the Nwoya District Headquarters in Anaka Town Council. The initiative brings together healthcare professionals from various partner organizations to provide free medical consultations, screening, treatment, health education, and referrals as part of Women Rise Uganda’s commitment to improving community health.

Speaking during the launch, Women Rise Uganda Founder and Executive Director Ketty Aromorach said the outreach is intended to improve access to healthcare, particularly for people who are unable to seek timely medical attention.

“We are working in communities where people face many health challenges. Many women, for example, do not go for cervical cancer screening until they develop symptoms, and by the time they are diagnosed, the disease is often already in the third or fourth stage. We want to bring these services closer to communities so that people can know their health status and receive the care they need before their conditions become critical,” Aromorach said.

She commended the Government of Uganda for expanding healthcare facilities across the country but noted that civil society organizations also have a responsibility to complement government efforts by bringing health services closer to the people.

“We believe initiatives like this increase access to healthcare. We are working closely with Anaka General Hospital to provide consultations, examinations, testing, and screening. Patients whose conditions cannot be managed at the camp are immediately referred to Anaka General Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, or the Uganda Cancer Institute in Gulu for specialized treatment,” she added.

Flyers that were moving informing people about the medical camp

Residents Welcome the Initiative

Patrick Otto, a resident of Anaka Town Council, whose wife and two children benefited from the outreach, praised Women Rise Uganda for organizing the health camp.

According to Otto, it is the first time such a comprehensive free medical outreach has been conducted openly within the community, allowing residents to access a wide range of health services without discrimination.

“Many people have been motivated because they are receiving the services they need. In government health facilities, some patients spend the whole day waiting for treatment only to be told to buy medicine elsewhere because it is unavailable. This discourages many people from seeking medical care. Here, people are receiving the services they need and are returning home satisfied,” he said.

Otto also appealed to the Government of Uganda and the Nwoya District Local Government to continue welcoming organizations that wish to provide similar health services.

“I applaud the Nwoya District Local Government for supporting this initiative. Had they not welcomed Women Rise Uganda and its partners, this outreach would not have happened. I encourage the government to continue supporting organizations that come to provide healthcare services to our communities.”

Korina Akidi, a resident of Dog Akaku, Labyee Parish in Anaka Town Council, applauded the organizers for prioritizing cancer screening.

She said many people in the community have been silently losing their lives to cancer, making the availability of free cervical and breast cancer screening particularly important.

“We received health education on how to protect ourselves from cancer. After the training, I was screened and was found to be healthy. I was advised to continue taking preventive measures and to return for another screening after three years,” she said.

Akidi noted that many residents previously feared undergoing cancer screening but attitudes have begun to change as awareness of the disease has increased.

“I appeal to the organizers to continue supporting the people of Nwoya with such programmes. I also ask government officials to keep informing communities whenever similar services are available so that more people can benefit.”

District Leaders Encourage Residents to Participate

Nwoya District Chairperson Patrick Okello Oryema encouraged residents to take advantage of the outreach by seeking medical care before illnesses become severe.

“I appeal to our people not to miss this opportunity. Let us turn up in large numbers. Women should come for cervical cancer screening, while everyone should be tested for malaria and other diseases affecting our communities so they can understand their health status,” Oryema said.

He observed that many residents delay seeking treatment until they are critically ill, making it more difficult for health workers to manage their conditions.

Oryema urged community members to undergo the available health screenings, receive treatment where necessary, and follow referral advice whenever specialized care is required.

He also commended Women Rise Uganda for extending free healthcare services to the district and encouraged other non-governmental organizations and private institutions to undertake similar community outreach programmes as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Wide Range of Free Medical Services

The outreach is offering a broad range of free healthcare services, including:

• Malaria testing and treatment
• Diabetes screening
• Eye screening
• Hepatitis B testing
• Cervical cancer screening
• Breast cancer awareness and screening
• General medical consultations
• Health education
• Referrals for specialized medical care among others

The initiative is supported by Yot Kom Health Care, Luena Foundation, You screen initiative, villa nova business park, Reproductive Health Uganda, and other partners. Organizers aim to serve more than 1,000 residents during the five-day outreach.

The medical camp is being conducted under the theme: “Healthy Lives, Empowered Communities.”