The Impact of C-Care on the Road in Adjumani

On October 28th, 2023.  C-Care embarked on a life-changing journey, launching the C-Care on the Road campaign in Adjumani as part of our broader mission, Caring for Communities. This initiative represents a heartfelt commitment to extending quality healthcare to areas where access to such services is often a luxury. Designed as a medical camp, the goal was clear: to reach the last mile, offering essential medical services to those who need it most in some of Uganda's most remote areas.

Adjumani, a district located in northern Uganda, exemplifies the challenges many regions face in accessing healthcare. With a population of over 250,000 people, many families live spread across vast distances with few health facilities to turn to when they need medical attention. In Uganda, about 41% of the population lives in rural areas, where access to healthcare services is significantly lower than in urban centers. For many, even basic services are hard to come by, contributing to the statistic that 70% of Uganda's healthcare challenges are concentrated in rural communities. This is where C-Care on the Road made a difference. By creating a mobile, comprehensive healthcare solution, we aimed to bring healthcare directly to the community, removing the barriers of distance, cost, and time that often prevent people from getting the care they deserve.


The team for this campaign consisted of 15 dedicated healthcare professionals, including five doctors, three lab technicians, two nurses, and five support staff. They provided a range of services that included doctor consultations, lab diagnostics, and pharmacy. These services were designed to address not just immediate medical needs, but also to help people take proactive steps toward managing their health. Screenings for hepatitis B, malaria, syphilis, sickle cell disease, random blood sugar, and urinalysis tests were among the diagnostic services offered, ensuring that a wide array of health concerns could be addressed in one visit. This is especially significant in a region where the incidence of malaria remains one of the highest in the country, and hepatitis B infection rates stand at around 4.6%, according to recent reports.

The response was a humbling reminder of the deep need for such services. By the end of the day, 302 residents had been seen, each one grateful for the opportunity to access quality healthcare. This number, though impressive for a one-day event, only scratches the surface of the larger need. In rural districts like Adjumani, where nearly 35% of the population lives below the poverty line, healthcare is often deprioritized due to costs. For many in the community, the camp represented a rare chance to consult with qualified doctors and receive accurate diagnoses. One thing that stood out was the eagerness of the community to invest in their health. Despite the modest fee, many residents were willing to prioritize their well-being, demonstrating the clear value that healthcare holds for even the most underserved populations. The average Ugandan spends less than $30 per year on healthcare, so the willingness of these residents to pay for the services highlighted the significance of the care being offered.
While the camp was largely successful, it wasn’t without its challenges. Heavy rains on the day of the event kept some residents from attending, and for others, the cost, though low, was still difficult to manage due to lack of preparation. These challenges highlighted the importance of early community engagement and mobilization efforts. For future camps, we aim to generate greater awareness through local radio stations, local council leaders, and churches, ensuring that everyone in the community has the time and opportunity to prepare. Involving trusted community figures like church leaders will help foster deeper connections and encourage more people to take advantage of the services provided. Another challenge was the language barrier, which at times hindered the communication between the medical team and the residents. This underscored the importance of having multilingual staff available, especially in regions with diverse linguistic backgrounds.

The C-Care on the Road campaign in Adjumani was not just about providing medical care; it was a demonstration of what is possible when healthcare comes to the people. It revealed a significant gap in healthcare services in these last-mile communities and showed that, given the chance, even those in the most remote areas will prioritize their health. However, it also made clear that there is much more work to be done. With over 70% of Uganda's health facilities concentrated in urban areas, the need to reach rural populations is evident, and our goal is to reduce the disparity in healthcare access between rural and urban communities.

Moving forward, we aim to expand this initiative to reach more underserved districts across Uganda. Our plan is to continue bringing C-Care on the Road to other districts like Karamoja, Tororo, Iganga, and Bukedea, where healthcare infrastructure is similarly limited. To achieve this, we need partners who share our vision of bringing healthcare to those who need it most. By supporting C-Care on the Road, partners can help us make a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of Ugandans, offering life-saving services and hope to communities that are too often overlooked.

This campaign is a reminder that healthcare is not a privilege, it’s a right. Yet, too many communities are left without it, waiting for someone to come to their aid. With the continued support of partners, we can ensure that no one is left behind. The journey we have started with C-Care on the Road is only the beginning, we can extend this mission to every corner of Uganda, bringing care, compassion, and healing to those who need it most. With over 20% of Ugandans unable to access even the most basic healthcare services, the urgency of this mission cannot be overstated.

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