Airtel Uganda and the Buganda Kingdom have handed over 60,000 sickle cell testing kits from the proceeds of the Kabaka birthday run 2017 to the administration of The Uganda National Health Laboratory Services, the body best equipped to carry out conclusive testing for the disease.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, each year over 30,000 babies are born with the sickle cell disease and over 80% die before their 5th birthday contributing to 15% infant mortality. These statistics have played a great role in making the fight against the sickle cell disease a key agenda for the Buganda Kingdom.
Speaking at the handover event, Airtel Uganda Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Flavia Ntambi Lwanga, echoed the telecom’s commitment to giving back to its communities.
“Airtel Uganda is honored to be working with the Buganda Kingdom, the Uganda Sickle Cell Foundation and the Ministry Of Health on this noble cause. It is our commitment to give back to the communities in which we operate hence us creating such impactful partnerships. In addition to the Kabaka Run, we have other Corporate Social Responsibility activities most notably the Airtel Health Camps which take place in different regions of the country every few quarter where we extend treatment & checkups to over 15,000 people,” she noted.
Commenting at the event, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, the Katikiro of Buganda Kingdom commended Airtel for coming on board to support this noble cause. “The kits are free for use and will allow over 120,000 people to get tested for the sickle cell disease and this will help fight the prevalence rate. I call upon Ugandans to take advantage of this donation and get tested as this will be the only way we can fight this disease,” he added.