The Woman MP for Mbarara City,Hon. Atukwasa Rita Bwahika has implored members of the community to embrace routine medical checkups to prevent both communicable & non-communicable diseases.
The legislator was addressing the people who participated in a medical camp she organized in partnership with City Medicals where free cervical cancer screening and HIV testing services were offered in Rutagarama trading centre, Rwebishuri, Kakiika and other areas today,Sunday 3rd July 2022. The medical camp attracted 100s especially women who appreciated and called on the government to bring such services closer.
“The first wealth is health. Some people say they don’t have money to go for medical checkups but they can afford buying alcohol. Let’s ensure that we test and doctors tell us our health statuses,” Hon. Rita added.
In Uganda, cervical cancer has been reported as the leading cancer affecting women – with annual incidence of 6,413 cases and annual mortality of 4,301 deaths. Cervical cancer is responsible for up to 40 % of all cancers reported in Uganda. Currently,about 1.5 million Ugandans have HIV infection,acquired mainly via heterosexual transmission; about 10% acquired HIV infection via the mother-child transmission route. In two studies, the mother-child HIV transmission rate reached 26%. 400,000-450,000 Ugandans have died from HIV/AIDS.
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