Prioritise serving humanity, Speaker Among tells leaders

Ms Anita Among waves to people who convened for a free medical camp in Bukedea District on Tuesday. Photo | David Oduut
What you need to know:
- She says that leadership is about delivering services and improving lives
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has urged leaders at all levels to prioritise serving the people over personal gain, emphasising that leadership is about delivering services and improving lives.
"Once you're a leader, you are supposed to leave humanity better than you got it," she said on Tuesday during the opening of a free health medical camp in Bukedea District. "As leaders of the 11th Parliament, whatever little we do, let's do it to serve humanity."
Ms Among's comprehensive medical camp is expected to benefit thousands of people from the Teso sub-region.
The camp, organised in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has brought together over 300 doctors from major health facilities across the country to provide free medical services, including cancer screening and treatment.
The Speaker's commitment to serving humanity is evident in her own efforts to improve health services in rural areas. She cited the establishment of the Bukedea Teaching Hospital, a specialised health facility, as an example of her dedication to improving the lives of Ugandans.
"When I opened the hospital, it was not to make profit, but to serve my people at a low cost, supplementing government programs," she explained.
The medical camp has attracted people from all over the Teso Sub-region, including Juliet Akayo, who traveled from Magoro sub-county in Katakwi District.
Ms Akayo was diagnosed with cervical cancer in Soroti but couldn't afford treatment in Kampala.
"This chance to meet with doctors from the National Cancer Institute and get treatment at no cost is like manna from heaven!" she exclaimed.
Dr Ben Watmon, Hospital Director at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, praised Ms Among for organising the camp, saying it will help address the medical case backlog in the community.
"In most cases, health workers wait for patients at health facilities but many [patients] do not visit, this creates a backlog of cases in the community," Dr Watmon noted.