By Kabuye Ronald
Hundreds of residents from Nakawa Division in Kampala City on Saturday benefited from a free Mental Health and Medical Camp organized by the Uganda Youth Alliance for Family Planning and Adolescent Health (UYAFPAH) now rebranded as UNIVIDA at Kiswa Primary School playgrounds in Bugolobi.
The health camp offered a wide range of free services, including mental health education, screening, and psychosocial support; general health checkups (BMI, blood pressure, antenatal care, child immunization, and deworming); HIV/AIDS, STI, and VPR screening; sickle cell testing; self-care education; cervical and prostate cancer screening; nutrition and wellness education; optical services; and blood donation, among others.
Amanda Joan Julian Mary Banura, Co-founder of UYAFPAH/UNIVIDA, said the initiative was organized in recognition of October as Mental Health Awareness Month.
“We found it crucial to hold this mental health awareness camp to bring health services and information closer to the people,” Banura explained. “We chose this venue because of its central location in Nakawa Division, especially Nakawa East, which brings together people from different parishes making it easy for residents to access free health services.”
Banura emphasized that mental health awareness remains a critical issue in Uganda.
“We are here to create awareness that mental health matters,” she said. “Cases have been increasing, and Butabika National Referral Hospital is overwhelmed with patients yet lacks adequate equipment, staff, and medication. We want to address the issue from the root by educating and sensitizing people that stress, depression, and anxiety can be managed before they lead to other illnesses like hypertension or even severe mental breakdowns.”
According to available statistics, mental health disorders are widespread in Uganda, affecting approximately 22.9% of children and 24.2% of adults. Depression is particularly common, with about one in three individuals experiencing it, while 67.6% of refugees suffer from depression. Additionally, 20.2% of adults experience anxiety disorders, and suicide ideation remains alarmingly high, especially among young people. Butabika Hospital, originally designed for 400 patients, now accommodates over 1,200.
Nuwampeire Shabellah, a clinical psychologist at the event, urged people especially the youth to seek knowledge on how to cope with life’s challenges, which often contribute to mental health issues.
“When you face challenges like losing a loved one or dealing with poverty, please don’t turn to alcohol or drugs, and don’t isolate yourself,” she advised. “If you start feeling persistently sad, lose appetite or overeat, or lose interest in activities you usually enjoy, seek help or talk to someone you trust, be it a parent, family member, health worker, or psychologist.”
Lukman Matambire, a community leader and teacher at Kiswa Primary School, expressed gratitude to the organizers, saying the camp provided timely medical interventions for residents and pupils who had long lacked access to essential health services.
“Such initiatives are a blessing to our community,” Lukman said. “We appreciate the organizers for bringing these services closer to us.”
Several residents who received free medical services also praised the organizers and called for such camps to be held more regularly.
The event was organized by UYAFPAH (UNIVIDA) in partnership with Plan International, Reach Out Mbuya, Limone Medical Centre, Mengo Rotary Blood Bank, Optiqa Eye Works, Rija Herbal Solutions Limited, SafeBoda, Reproductive Health Uganda, and Galaxy Opticals, among others.
