SUCCESS REGISTERED IN KIU STUDENTS’ MEDICAL CAMP

Team of medical students and other Doctors during photo moment at the facility

By Odong Stephen
July 17, 2025

The medical camp that was held at Tree of life medical center in Pajaa village Patiko Sub County in Gulu district from July 10 -14 2025 ended very successfully.
The camp was a join initiative by students who study at Kampala International University- KIU western compass through the Acholi Students’ Association, Acholi Students’ Union alongside other partners and it successfully served over five hundred community members with free medical diagnosis and treatment.

George Obur, the chairperson organizing committee for the medical camp said the medical camp registered success because they were able to meet the target of providing treatment to over five hundred people because they had a good number of medical practitioners on the ground among which included Doctors, clinical officers, Nurses among others.

“To me I call it a success because when you look at the community, this is what they have been lucking for long, looking at the distance from nearby health facilities, but I am happy to say that the little that we have got, we used them all for it purpose and everyone who came to the facility were able to be diagnosed of their sicknesses and given medication.  Therefore, we shall write our report and send to the district to help them in their planning for future reference” said Obur.

Obur also said that in the four days medical camp, they were able to identify some common sicknesses people are suffering from and among which are peptic ulcer and malaria which are big problems because out of every 10 people they have been testing for ulcer and malaria, at least 8 would be diagnosed with those diseases.

However, they were able to give them all the necessary treatment as well as giving guidance and counselling on what to do.
Some community members camping to get medical services being attended to by the medical students and Doctors.

Lucky Ajok the Chief Executive Officer for a Non-governmental organization called Acholi Women in Health Foundation and one of the partners for the medical camp, stated that the medical camp was a great success because they were able to provide services such as free Health consultation, Laboratory services and even giving treatment for some diseases that were supposed to be treated or could be treated on spot and they were able go to various schools within the sub county to educate the learners on better ways of how they can take care of their health, personal sanitation and hygiene and how to manage health conditions that can arise from personal hygiene challenges.

Ajok appealed to other organizations that mainly handle community health to always partner with students to help provide them with expertise and as well support their initiatives.

Amito Brenda, Head of Logistics for this camp said their initial budget for the medical camp was eleven million but the host took part of this budget by providing feeding, accommodation, Tent and chairs and the students supplemented by raising fund among themselves through selling of T-shirts that they printed that helped raised money to buy medicine.

“one of the challenges we registered when organizing this camp was fund raising from our own people our politician, church leaders, social workers and other organizations, they are always turning us down yet we have the desire to help our people annually, that was our vision to always organize this camp so that our people back home know their well-being but, it has been a challenge that when we reach out to them they are always bouncing us and not willing to support our initiatives,” said Amito.

Meanwhile, the area LC 3 Chairperson of Patiko sub county Hon Patrick Komakech noted that the medical camp helped many community members learn more about their health status because a number of people got tested on various sicknesses.

“So I want to appreciate this medical outreach that happened in my community of Pajaa village, this community made us the local leaders of Patiko to have complete partnership with the students of KIU because we have realized that the students who are professionals like the medical Doctors, if they can give what we call giving back to community the way they have done, it has made the community very impressive because all people who came for services are either treated or given directive on what to do,” Hon Komakech said.

The medical services given during the medical camp outreach include, General consultation, HIV counselling and testing, Minor surgery, Dental services, Malaria testing and treatment, maternal and child health among others and the camp was held under the theme “Bridging the gap health equity for all.”