At least 300 people have received various free medical services in a medical camp by St Augustine chaplaincy, Makerere University. The services offered during the medical camp include HIV testing and counseling, blood donation, hepatitis B testing and vaccination, TB and sickle cell screening, among others.

According to Peter Douglas Musiitwa, the team leader sickle cell screening from Central Public Laboratories, Butabika, they had worked on 205 people any press time. "We have screened 205 people and 26 are carriers, while 179 normal," Musiitwa said.

Sickle cell is a genetic disease got if one of the parents or both have the sickle cell genes. Carriers have the sickle cell trait but live a normal life, but sicklers show the disease symptoms like deep body pain and respiratory problems.

"I advise everyone to know their status to avoid getting a carrier partner, thus protecting their children from acquiring the disease," Musiitwa advised.

Another service, HIV testing and counseling was done by Uganda Cares. 164 clients had been tested by press time and all of them were found to be HIV negative, according to Mathias Mulumba, the team leader from Cares Uganda. He however warned that the results should not mislead people to believe that HIV does not exist, but advised the public to keep safe.

According to Maria Nakitende, the chairperson organizing team St Augustine Chapel, the camp attracted many people compared to the one conducted last year. "This is going to be an annual event that we started last year as St Augustine community to extend services to those who are unable to pay for such healthcare," Nakitende said.

She adds that the camp emerged a success because of contributions from church members, donations from companies like Wide Spectrum Uganda and their partner Rotary Club of Kampala. "We are so grateful to whoever contributed to the success of this medical camp. It was so good and people have been able to utilize all the services," Nakitende adds.