AMDA run puts preventive health at the centre of charity drive

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The annual AMDA Caravan Run took place at Kitante primary school in Kampala on Sunday, combining a fitness challenge with health screening and fundraising for a wider community outreach programme planned for Nyabwina Parish in Sheema District.

The run, organised by the Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA), attracted about 1,200 registered participants who took part in 5km and 10km races.

But for organisers, the event was about more than raising money for the caravan. It was also an opportunity to promote physical activity, early detection of disease and routine health checks.

Martin Byamukama, head of the AMDA Sports Council, said the run was organised as a way of creating awareness about the caravan while mobilising resources for the free services it will provide.

“The caravan is designed to take services directly to communities, rather than waiting for people to travel to urban centres to seek them”.

The run also featured a mini medical camp offering cancer screening, HIV counselling and testing, giving participants an opportunity to check their health status.

Dr Rosemary Byanyima, the executive Director of Mulago hospital and an AMDA member, said the health component reflects the organisation’s emphasis on prevention.

“Physical activity should not be limited to organised events such as the annual run but should become part of people’s daily lives”.

Byanyima warned that physical inactivity contributes to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including stroke, heart conditions and some cancers.

The medical screening at the run therefore provided a practical extension of that message, allowing participants to combine exercise with basic health checks.

The run is part of preparations for the AMDA Caravan, which will move to Nyabwina Parish later this year.

Chris Gumisiriza said AMDA selects a different community for the caravan each year after assessing areas that have expressed interest in hosting the programme.

“Nyabwina was selected after an assessment of its needs in areas including healthcare, education and access to specialised services”.

Gumisiriza described the parish as being “in ICU” in terms of the challenges facing the community.

The caravan will bring together medical and non-medical services, including a larger medical camp expected to serve about 6,000 people.

The health programme will include dentistry and ophthalmology services, as well as screening for breast and cervical cancer and other conditions.

The organisation will also support education-related needs in the community, including work at St Thomas Secondary School.

For AMDA, the model is intended to bring services closer to communities that may otherwise struggle to access specialised care.

The focus on prevention comes as Uganda continues to face a double burden of infectious diseases and non- communicable diseases.

Byanyima said the charity run provided an opportunity to remind the public that some health problems can be addressed before they become severe through regular physical activity, screening and routine medical check-ups.

The event’s free HIV counselling and testing also reinforced the importance of knowing one’s health status.

The organisers said the same principle will guide the caravan in Nyabiina, where the medical camp will combine screening with access to specialist services.