HAC Staff walk the 7.2 km journey to Tekera remote community
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Written by Mercy Ahukana, Communications & Development Officer, Health Access Connect.
We drove into the compound of Buwunga Health Center III at about 10 am, all thrilled about how the day was going to turn out. The weather was also in full agreement with us! As we prepared to start the walk to Tekera remote community, I had an opportunity to engage with one of the staff members on what they think about remote residents that have to walk a 7.2km journey to access health services.
“Walking a 7.2km journey is no joke even though it looks near when traveling in a car. For someone to actually walk this journey when they are not well, takes so much strength and effort, and I respect men and women in remote communities for that. Today I also want to taste what it means to walk a 7.2km journey to a health facility. Otherwise, I am glad to be part of a team that changes this story for remote communities”
— Patricia Tumuheki, HAC’s Finance & Administration officer commented.
At exactly 10:30 am, we set off from Buwunga Health Center III, as a team, to walk the journey to Tekera remote community. The road to the community is extremely dusty and busy with loaded trucks speeding to and fro on the road. This made the journey a lot more tiring since we had to keep crossing the road from side to side just to avoid the dust hovering all over us.
HAC staff pose for a photo at Buwunga Health Center III before they start the 7.2km journey to Tekera remote community
An hour later, It seemed like the journey had not yet even started, we had a long distance ahead of us to Tekera community. We took a turn to a less busy road and started drawing closer to Tekera remote community. Since the population is widely spread all over, our team members, Mark Kayongo and Patricia Tumuheki held out the megaphones and started mobilizing the surrounding communities to visit the outreach clinic that was taking place in Tekera community. As we kept on walking, we grabbed the attention of some of the mothers, shopkeepers, and farmers. They paid close attention as Patricia and Mark provided more information about the outreach clinic.
“Health workers from Buwunga Health Center III have arrived in Tekera community and the outreach clinic has already began. If you are in need of medical attention come and they give you treatment. They are providing antiretroviral services, antenatal care, postnatal care, immunization, family planning, malaria treatment and so many other primary healthcare services. Please visit the clinic.”
— Patricia and Mark kept on announcing in intervals are they walked the journey.
Some of the community members that listened approached and told us about their health conditions wondering if they were able to receive treatment at the outreach clinic. The answer was yes! I recall one of the community members, in particular, asking us,
“ My baby is suffering from a skin infection that has been giving her alot of discomfort for some time now. I am worried about her. If I bring her to the outreach clinic, will she receive treatment?”
Exactly two hours later, feeling depleted in strength, we finally arrived at Tekera remote community. About 50 community members were already gathered under a tent at the outreach clinic. When they saw us, their faces were lit up with smiles giving us a warm welcome to their peaceful community. The community mobilizer that had earlier mobilized the members to attend the outreach clinic, sat under the tent registering all patients that had come to seek medical attention.
“When a patient comes to the outreach clinic, they first register there name with me, then I give them a card with a number. The health workers follow these card numbers in attending to patients in an orderly manner. This is to ensure that everyone can get treatment according to the time they came, apart from emergency cases.”
— The community mobilizer explained.
There were three health workers at the outreach. One health worker was carrying out blood tests for the patients, another health worker diagnosing patients, while the other was prescribing medication to the patients. Some of our team members who are trained in public health decided to support the health workers in diagnosing and prescribing medication to the community members.
The rest of the team, including me, engaged the other community members on how their experience has been with these outreach clinics. We also conducted a health education session for the community members. The people listened attentively and even asked questions where they needed clarifications.
“Musawo (Doctor), one of the sicknesses we really struggle with here (Tekera community) is flue and cough. It spreads around so fast and it is very deadly among the elderly and the young, yet we don’t have a near health facility. These outreach clinics have really helped us. The health workers come and work on us and it really helps us to get better. I hope they continue bringing these outreach clinics to us”
— Muwanga Tadeo, Father, Tekera remote community
Patients being attended to by the health workers, supported by the HAC Staff at the outreach clinic in Tekera remote community.
By 5 pm, all the patients that visited the outreach clinic were all attended to. It was a true meaning of what closing the distance means to us at Health Access Connect. Like we did for Tekera remote community, we also want to close the distance for the thousands of remote communities in Uganda and around the world. They deserve to easily access healthcare services. Although, we are limited in doing this without your help. This month, as we host our walkathon fundraiser to raise funds that can help us expand our work to additional remote communities, we request your support.
