2023 Medical Camp - Promoting Health and Happiness in Our Community!
Education is the foundation for a happy, healthy life, but it’s difficult to focus on learning when there’s a lack of basic medical services. AIA isn’t a medical organization, but we are a community-led nonprofit. So, we were eager to help The Center’s visitors after so many mothers expressed the need for more accessible healthcare services in Nakuwadde.
The Center is a unique space where community members can advocate to local leadership for the resources they want and collaborate directly with organizations to address the range of needs that they see as essential for holistic health in their community.
Alive Medical Services (AMS) has been a leading organization in Uganda's response to HIV/AIDS and SRHR for over 15 years. Located in Namuwongo, near Kampala, it operates around-the-clock, 24/7 saving lives. Three times a year, usually at the beginning of each school term, we host AMS at The Center for our day-long medical camp where they provide discreet and warm medical care to our visitors for free. Visitors receive everything from blood pressure checks, to HIV tests and even haircuts, which are required as part of Uganda’s school safety policy.
The Center hosted its first medical camp almost a decade ago, and just like our education programs it’s expanded year over year and adjusted to meet the needs of the community. In May, we hosted our first medical camp of 2023. Over 500 people came and received care.
The medical camp is truly a community-driven event and yet another example of the positive change an empowered community can create. Many of our students volunteer their skills in service of medical camp visitors. Our high school students come back and provide haircuts for primary school students and two of our scholarship program graduates who now have careers in the medical field return to share their gifts with the community.
