By Our Reporter
By mid-morning, the grounds of Nakivubo Blue Primary School had filled with quiet urgency, mothers balancing toddlers, boda riders comparing notes on blood pressure readings, elderly couples seated patiently under the shade.
Healthcare access remains uneven across many Ugandan communities, and for many, the nearest medical help is still out of reach. In response, dfcu Bank, working alongside Rotary Uganda, Joint Medical Stores, Mengo Blood Bank, and Organization for Promotion of Health, continues to bring healthcare closer through sustained, community-based outreach.
This free medical outreach forms part of a growing network of family health days that began in 2025, reaching communities from Mbuya to Kasenyi Landing Site, Mbarara, Ibanda, and Masaka, each stop designed to remove distance, cost, and hesitation from the equation of care.
Speaking at the outreach, Marjorie Brenda Namyalo, the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Kampala Blue Hearts, dfcu Bank’s Staff Rotary Club, noted that the camps address both communicable and non-communicable diseases, including malaria, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell disease, and dental conditions, alongside general consultations and blood donation drives.
With expected turnout between 1,500 and 2,000 people, the model is structured for continuity, with referral pathways for specialised treatment. Backed by a three-year UGX 1 billion commitment from dfcu Bank to Rotary Uganda, the partnership reflects a deliberate shift, from episodic corporate social responsibility to long-term, systems-focused investment in public health.
It combines Rotary’s community reach and trust with dfcu’s institutional capacity to scale access across underserved areas. Since inception, the initiative has delivered measurable outcomes across 12 medical camps, including Nakivubo, reaching over 20,290 individuals with essential healthcare services.
A total of 18,790 general consultations have been conducted, alongside 2,236 surgical procedures, including 22 pediatric heart surgeries. Preventive and diagnostic services include 1,433 cancer screenings and over 4,264 sickle cell screenings, complemented by maternal health support and more than 244 units of blood donated.
Working through Rotary districts 9213 and 9214, the initiative continues to strengthen local health systems, support community health education, and improve continuity of care across more than six regions in Uganda.
The launch of the Rotary Club of Kampala Blue Hearts in August 2025, Uganda’s first corporate Rotary club composed of dfcu Bank staff, further embeds this commitment within the institution, reinforcing a model that prioritises long-term impact, community partnership, and sustainable health outcomes.