World TB Day drive with Uganda Cares

Alice Kayongo Mutebi (L), the regional policy and advocacy manager of Uganda Cares, speaks to Dembe FM’s Promotions Executive, Bina Babie. pHOTO by abubaker lubowa.

March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day and Dembe FM in partnership with Uganda Cares, are conducting a public education campaign to inform, test for Tuberculosis and offer treatment to members of the public.

Uganda Cares, a service organisation dedicated to the care and treatment of people infected with HIV, will also be working with the Ministry of Health and Kampala Capital City Authority in celebration of TB day.

“We are observing World TB day at our clinics in St Balikuddembe market popularly known as Owino because our aim is to reach the community with a wide population. We want to help sensitise, identify, and ensure that members of the public are free from Tuberculosis. However, should we identify any people with the disease; it is our duty to ensure that they are treated because TB is a curable disease,” says Alice Kayongo Mutebi, the regional policy and Advocacy manager, Uganda Cares.

Kayongo highlights that as an organisation, they reach out, treat and cure. The major challenge the organisation faces is the stigma that comes along with people thinking that if one has TB, they are HIV positive. “Not many people come out so we reach out to them and this is not a one day activity because this is one way we are mobilising communities so that they know we offer free treatment,” she highlights.

Robinah Mbabazi aka Bina Babie, a presenter with Dembe FM, shares that the station is offering free publicity and sensitisation about the event. “We are informing our listeners about the TB testing and treatment in Owino and we will be there to cover the event and record success stories from former TB patients,” she explains.

To highlight the burden of tuberculosis, Kayongo quotes global statistics which indicate that approximately 1.5m people die of TB while nine million get infected every year.”

The disease is curable although people die due to delay in checkup or failure to complete the recommended dosage. With the public testing, Uganda Cares seeks to identify those affected by the disease and prevent deaths which can be controlled by seeking immediate medical assistance.

The organisation offers treatment for Hepatitis B, diabetes and free medical services to people living with HIV, among other services. “Our role is to join the world to reach, treat TB in Uganda before it claims more lives,” Kayongo shares.

With over 32 clinics countrywide, the organisation offers free medical services at all its centres except the Wellness Hub along Kira road in Kamwokya, a suburb of Kampala.