Jinja Independence Run

When was the last time you visited a dentist? For many Ugandans, if not Africans as whole, we shall visit the dentist because either we have a toothache or some health issue connected to the teeth and you were advised to seek dental advice.

For many public health facilities in Uganda, this is a medical sect that is often forgotten. Some have dental facilities albiet poorly equipped whilst others have none.

Walukuba Health Centre IV like many Health Centre IVs in Uganda is one of the very many that has become dilapidated to nearly non-existent. The residents of Jinja East Constituency rallied behind the Kira Venture Run, the organisers of the Independence Day Marathon,  to fundraise for automated dental equipment for the health facility.

The run was attended by the Prime Minister of Busoga Kingdom Osman Noor Muhammed and several constituents and well wishers. The run was able to raise 5m of the targeted 17m. The chairman of the drive Richard Mbazira is still hopeful that as a community they will be able to transform the hospital. “Currently, the major problem at the facility is dental. As a community, we have stopped lamenting to the government and are ready to support the facility through purchasing the automated dental equipment,” said Richard.

Like the adage goes “aghali aghalala, nagaluma emamba oba eigumba,”  loosely translated, “It’s the teeth that are together that bite the meat or crush the bone.”

The Prime Minister of Busoga Osman Noor Muhammed thanked the constituents for all their efforts but urged them that as they continue to improve on the services of the health centre, they should also look to address the other conditions that afflict the hospital like sanitation among others. He also said that the community coming together to mobilise funds to improve their public facilities was a sign of maturity and hoped that the Government will meet their efforts halfway. He also went to inform the constituents during his address at Walukuba Primary School which was the flagship station for the marathon.

The Run was started in 2019, where they were able to raise funds that facilitated the purchase of two solar panels that were installed on the maternity ward of Walukuba Health Centre IV. The chairman of the drive Richard Mbazira hopes that their continuous efforts shall slowly raise the standard and improve the services at the Health Centre IV.