Over 1,000 residents attend free HIV/AIDS, health camp in Hoima
Another participant praised the program for supporting young people and urged the government to bring more such services closer to communities.
Hoima: More than 1,000 residents on Wednesday gathered in Waki Village, Kapapi Subcounty, Hoima District for a free HIV/AIDS awareness and health boot camp organized by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) in partnership with TASO Masindi.
The three-day outreach, which began Tuesday in Runga, continued today in Waki, and will conclude tomorrow in Kabolwa, is serving communities in both Hoima and Buliisa districts. The camp operates daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents received a wide range of services including HIV testing and counseling, prostate and cervical cancer screening, diabetes and hypertension checks, hepatitis B screening, general health education, and medical consultations.
LC1 Secretary Oryema Jakuma thanked the organizers but raised concerns about inadequate access to safe water in Waki. He noted that many residents rely on river water shared with livestock and wild animals, exposing them to health risks.
Jakuma also pointed out the poor condition of roads, saying they make it difficult for residents especially expectant mothers to reach health facilities, some of which are seven kilometers away.
Kapapi Subcounty LC3 Chairperson Godfrey Mwesigwa warned that lakeshore communities remain vulnerable to typhoid, cholera, and bilharzia, largely due to dependence on unsafe water sources.
Community member Kaga Abdul Nur expressed gratitude for the program but regretted the low turnout of Bagungu community members, noting that most attendees were women.
Beneficiary Magret Ozele, a Congolese trader, said the camp gave her an opportunity to know her HIV status and access cancer screening.
Another participant praised the program for supporting young people and urged the government to bring more such services closer to communities.
Uganda AIDS Commission representative Victor Rwengabo commended the outreach for reaching hard-to-access communities like Waki. He confirmed that individuals who tested positive for HIV would immediately begin treatment, with some receiving up to six months’ supply of ARVs, reducing the burden of frequent trips to health facilities.
UNOC’s Head of Corporate Affairs Robert Mukondo explained that the outreach is part of the company’s ongoing social impact programs in the Kasuruban Contract Area, which covers Hoima, Buliisa, and Masindi districts. He added that UNOC, TASO, and the Uganda AIDS Commission are also working with the Uganda Police to promote road and marine safety.
Dr. Ronald Musisi, lead physician from TASO Masindi, reported worrying findings: at least 12 out of every 100 women screened showed signs suggestive of cervical cancer, while HIV infections were notably high among young girls in the region.
