KAMPALA — In celebration of a life lived well, Eseri Clinic, in Mukono, ran a week-long health fair dubbed ‘Hands and Hearts Fair’ to drive community health awareness in Mukono District.
The ’Hands and Hearts Fair’ was organized in honor of Mrs. Christine Lubwama, who passed on earlier this year. During the week, Eseri Clinic conducted a blood donation drive that collected 150 units of blood.
During the week, Eseri Clinic staff and volunteers immunized children, ran HIV tests for residents, screened for Diabetes, and provided free family planning advice to more than 2,500 residents of Mukono District.
The activities at the Eseri Clinic ‘Hands and Hearts Fair’ also included free child health check-up, blood pressure awareness eye check-ups and many other medical checks, all conducted at no cost to the participants.
Founded in 1991 with a focus on maternal health, Eseri Clinic had only one trained midwife at the time – Mrs. Christine Lubwama, who became popularly known as “Musawo”.
Her passion for maternal health and safe child delivery was recognized across Mukono District, drawing in families who travelled and still travel from afar to deliver their children at Eseri Clinic. Her practice became so successful that it now operates like a fully-fledged hospital offering a wide range of medical services.
Ethel Lubwama, the Director of Eseri Clinic, said the health camp was such a successful and fitting tribute to her mother’s memory.
“Support from the community has been overwhelming and we are grateful. We are very happy that this was possible thanks to our different partners who have supported us through this. We plan on starting monthly health outreach events in different communities,” she said.
As part of its community outreach program, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa supported the Health camp with a consignment of drinks for the blood donors and health facilitators. The company is committed to supporting communities in order to create a shared future.
“We strive to have a positive impact in our communities where there is need. People are always at the center of everything we do, be it our employees, community and trade partners. We pride ourselves in being able to create meaningful change within the community in whatever way we can,” said Faith Anita Natuha, Regional Trade Marketing Representative, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) in Uganda.
“Health will always be a priority issue for us, we are living in unprecedented times where many people have been crippled financially, thus supporting this health camps complements on what the government is doing,” she added.
The company has been involved in other interventions in regards to the COVID-19 outbreak. CCBA has provided several interventions including; food relief worth UGX390million from The Coca-Cola Foundation, distributed through the Uganda Red Cross Society to vulnerable families affected by the lockdown; UGX85million to the Ministry of Health to buy medical equipment and sundries; public awareness worth UGX460million and three pick-up trucks for the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Task Force.
So far the total contribution during this period is UGX1.3billion.