WAKISO — A two-day health screening exercise targeting over 234 orphans at the Assahaba Islamic Centre in Kakiri concluded on Tuesday, with medical officials emphasizing the critical role of early disease detection in safeguarding vulnerable children.
The exercise, which commenced on Monday, March 16, saw a total of 234 students undergo comprehensive medical examinations aimed at identifying both infectious and chronic conditions.
According to the medical team on the ground, blood samples were the primary diagnostic tool used to screen for a range of high-risk conditions, including HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Syphilis, Malaria, and Typhoid.
Beyond laboratory tests, the students underwent general physical examinations, vital sign observations, and haemoglobin level checks to monitor for anaemia and other nutritional deficiencies.
Mr. Maiso Muhammadu, the Senior Nursing Officer overseeing the exercise, noted that the initiative is a proactive measure designed to maintain a healthy environment within the facility.
We do it for health security in the centre. If we find any case, we can handle it before it is too late. Mr. Muhammadu said.
He added that by assessing the children’s past health histories alongside current physical states, the centre can provide timely management for those found with underlying issues.
The Assahaba Islamic Centre, which operates under Direct Aid Uganda a non-governmental organization headquartered in Kuwait regularly facilitates such health drives as part of its broader mandate to provide holistic care for orphans in all it’s Centres.
Officials at the centre stated that the screening is part of an ongoing commitment to ensure that the children, many of whom come from vulnerable backgrounds, have access to the same quality of healthcare as their peers.