More than 500 receive free medical services
Some of the people who turned up for free medical screening. Photo by Alex Esagala.
More than 500 people have received free medical services during a one day medical camp.
The camp which was recently held at Family Care Hospital in Najeera saw women screened for cervical cancer while expectant mothers were offered ultrasound scan services. Other services offered were dental checkups, consultation, malaria and HIV testing in addition to diabetes testing.
Ameliah Apolot, the hospital’s administration manager, said they distributed free mosquito nets and free medicines from Joint Medical Stores and Wakiso District.
“We got medication for diabetes, de-wormers, anti-malaria tablets. These were given complimentary to the usual services at the hospital,” she explained.
She added that the camp was used as a platform for a pilot programme on E-health which allows patient information to be electronically stored and stop the hustle of long queues and paper work.
“We have also launched a medcard which we are distributing for free to our clients and will be used by the doctor to access all patient files. Medcard is piloting the programme here and we hope it will ease work,” Apolot added.
Phillip Kilara, the managing director of MedCard continued saying the cards which cost one dollar, roughly Shs3,400 for production will be used to help boost the E-health system in the country.
“When I looked at the long queues at hospitals, a person comes to see the doctor early morning but leaves in the evening, I wondered how I would be help and that is how I and my partner started MedCard. The card is used only for identification purposes; this means nothing is stored on it and can be used for a lifetime as long as it is not stolen,” Kilara explained.
He added saying it can as well be used in public health facilities to help cut down on the paperwork burden.
