More than 370 students at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) Kampala Campus have received free sickle cell screening and other health services through a medical outreach organised by dfcu Bank and Rotary Uganda, bringing the number of beneficiaries under the partners’ nationwide healthcare initiative to over 30,000.
The one-day health camp offered sickle cell testing, medical consultations, health education, nutritional counselling, mental health awareness and referrals for specialised treatment. For many students, it was the first time they had learnt their sickle cell status, an important step in preventing and managing one of Uganda’s most common inherited diseases.
Uganda has one of the world’s highest sickle cell burdens, with about 13 per cent of the population carrying the sickle cell trait and an estimated 20,000 babies born with the disease each year. Health experts say many people remain unaware of their status until they start families, making early screening among young adults critical for prevention and informed decision-making.
The outreach is part of a three-year partnership under which dfcu Bank committed Shs1 billion to support community healthcare programmes implemented by Rotary Uganda. The initiative aims to improve access to preventive healthcare, promote early diagnosis and strengthen referral pathways for specialised treatment.
Since its launch, the programme has conducted medical camps across several parts of the country, including Nakivubo, Mbuya, Kasenyi Landing Site, Mbarara, Ibanda and Masaka. In addition to serving more than 30,000 people, the partnership has facilitated life-saving heart surgeries for 22 children from western Uganda.
Speaking during the outreach, dfcu Bank Sustainability Manager Diana Nanono said access to quality healthcare is essential for sustainable development because poor health affects household incomes, productivity and long-term economic growth.
She said many young people remain unaware of their sickle cell status until much later in life, yet knowing their status enables them to make informed health and family planning decisions. Nanono added that taking screening services directly to institutions such as IUIU helps improve access to preventive healthcare while empowering communities with vital health information.
Nanono noted that the programme reflects dfcu Bank’s commitment to creating shared value, with employees actively supporting the initiative through the Rotary Club of Kampala Blue Hearts, Uganda’s first corporate Rotary club. The programme is implemented in partnership with Joint Medical Stores, Mengo Blood Bank and the Organisation for Promotion of Health.
Rotarian Moses Kibirige of the Rotary Club of Kiwafu Breeze said while many people living with sickle cell disease know their condition, many carriers remain unaware of their status. He said community screening programmes help bridge this gap by enabling young people to make informed decisions before marriage and parenthood.
One of the beneficiaries, Nkwanga Nabilah Hamidah, a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery student at IUIU, said the outreach gave her an opportunity to finally know her sickle cell status. She said she had wanted to take the test for a long time but had not found the opportunity, making the free screening especially valuable given her family’s history of sickle cell disease.
dfcu Bank and Rotary Uganda say they will continue expanding community medical outreaches across the country to bring preventive healthcare, early diagnosis and health education closer to underserved communities.
