By Simon Peter Olara

On Tuesday 9th, July 2024, fourth-year medical students from KIU Western Campus, who are undergoing clinical training at Kiryandongo Hospital, participated in a community outreach programme in Kiryandongo sub-county.

The programme involved a clean-up campaign of the town council and marketplaces, sensitization sessions with boda-boda riders, visits to Mak Jolly and Kiryandongo Church of Uganda Primary Schools, and discussions with Village Health Teams (VHTs).

They began with cleaning the town council and markets, then spread out into Kiryandongo town council, engaging residents in door-to-door health discussions and on-site sensitization of the boda-boda riders at various stages.

These sessions covered a variety of important topics that are sometimes disregarded in rural areas, such as proper hygiene practices, common communicable disease prevention, safe sex education, and the significance of regular HIV monitoring.

They then visited Mak Jolly Primary School and Kiryandongo Church of Uganda Primary School where they delivered targeted health talks. 

The medical students addressed menstrual health education for girls to empower them with the knowledge and confidence to manage their menstrual cycle hygienically and comfortably.

They also talked to them about the importance of staying in school, consequences of early sexual intercourse and the need to speak up if faced with sexual violence.

To better understand the situation on the ground, the students later visited and held discussions with the Village Health Teams (VHTs) who offered useful insights into the community's issues, such as limited resources and geographical limitations. This exchange encouraged teamwork and allowed the students to discover potential areas where their future knowledge could help enhance healthcare delivery.

The students' outreach programme not only met acute health needs but also served to foster trust and partnerships between future healthcare workers and the communities they will serve.

Such activities will benefit students as they begin their careers in healthcare, allowing them to integrate their clinical abilities within the greater framework of the community healthcare ecosystem.