Hundreds flock Akibua stadium as health camp opens

Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Hundreds of women have pitched camp at Akii-Bua Memorial Stadium in Lira City to access free obstetrics and gynecological services.

The five-day health camp is organized by the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Uganda under the theme “Improving the Health of Women and Children in Lira, Northern Uganda.”

Speaking during the official launch on Tuesday, Health Minister who is also the Woman MP for Lira City Dr. Jane Aceng Ocero said the camp will address healthcare backlogs resulting from women not accessing services timely.

She further said that the camp will enable the mothers to access specialized services that they may not had access to due to the shortage of specialists.

So far over 500 out of the 2000 women who showed up on Monday have been attended to. The services include consultations, treatment, surgeries, and other gynecological services.

Dr. Andrew Odur, a Gynecologist at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH) explained that the camp is an opportunity for women to access services that could have been long overdue for them.

Dr. Nathan Onyachi, the Director Lira Regional Referral Hospital said the hospital expects to organise there more camps before the year ends.

Sophia Akello, a resident of Etek sub-county in Lira district is optimistic that doctors from the health camp will operate on the swollen lamp on her right side which has been causing her pain for the last three years.

But IMary from Adwila, Boroboro ward in Lira City East expressed her disappointment that she did not get access to the services that she expected to receive.

Lawrence Egole, the Lira City Resident Commissioner told the minister that some unscrupulous people were spreading false propaganda about the camp.

Between the 24th to 31st of August, specialists from Mbarara University will be in Lango for a Ural- gynecological camp where women with complications such as protruding reproductive systems as a result of violence or childbirth and obstetric fistula.

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