Ministry of Health staff begin on-site self-care health checks

21 August 2025, 4:25 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

The Ministry of Health has launched a two-day integrated health camp at its headquarters in Wandegeya under the theme “I Know My Health Status—What About You?” The initiative targets around 300 of the more than 500 health workers based at the Wandegeya head office, according to Senior Public Relations Officer Emmanuel Ainebyoona.

The camp aims to strengthen the workforce by bringing essential health checks directly to staff, enabling them to prioritise their own wellbeing while maintaining quality service delivery. Services on offer include blood sugar and liver function tests, malaria, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis screening, as well as prostate and cervical cancer screening, family planning counselling, mental health support, and a blood-donation drive, with the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services targeting 65 units.

Director of Public Health, Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, emphasised that offering services on-site helps address health “blind spots” among staff, promoting self-awareness and personal leadership as a foundation for improved health planning and behavioural change.

Assistant Commissioner for the AIDS Control Programme, Dr Richard Mutumba, explained that on-site teams are equipped to evaluate febrile illnesses such as malaria and to detect other conditions with similar symptoms. He also acknowledged the partners who mobilised support at short notice to make the camp possible.

Henry Magala, Country Director of AHF Uganda Cares, a partner with the ministry, said the team is providing comprehensive health support for staff. Services include cervical cancer screening, condom distribution, and HIV testing and counselling, with those testing positive referred to three supported ART clinics in Kampala. Additionally, staff showing signs of STIs such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis are referred to Kitante Wellness Centre for testing, treatment, and follow-up.

Dr Roseline Achola, Technical Specialist in Family Planning and Self-Care at the Ministry, stressed that health workers often neglect their own health while caring for patients, despite being well-informed. She highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how vulnerable everyone, including doctors and health workers, can be.

Dr Achola emphasised that self-care is essential for health workers to remain effective. Staff are encouraged to eat on time, monitor their blood pressure and cholesterol, and have regular health checks to detect and prevent illness. She noted that the camp serves as a starting point to raise awareness and reinforce that health workers, like the communities they serve, need support.

She urged staff to practise self-care continuously, highlighting the risks posed by heavy workloads and higher occupational exposure. Using an airplane analogy, she stated that health workers need to “fix your oxygen mask first before helping others.”