HEALTH! Kashari residents warned against self-medication
People in the lines during the medical camp at Karwensanga HCII
Amos Tayebwa
Mbarara
The residents from Kashari North in Mbarara District have been cautioned over self-medication as one of the most dangerous practices as far as health guidelines are concerned.
This call was made during a medical camp that was held at Karwensanga HCII in Rubindi Town Council Kashari North where hundreds turned up for free health services. The two days medical camp was organized by one Fred Mwesigye and a team of Ankore Health Students from Mulago medical school in collaboration with Mbarara District.
Dr. Elastus Tugume, the Mbarara District Deputy DHO revealed that the issue of self-medication has led to anti-bacterial resistance.
Dr. Tugume urged the public and all the people to always first get a proper diagnosis before buying over-the-counter medicine.
“As the health department in the District, we have registered a lot of ant-bacterial resistance because of these over-the-counter drugs. We advise people to always first look for a doctor or a physician or someone to access them and he prescribes the right medicine that matches with the disease detected. If you have malaria, if you have typhoid, you will mostly get the same signs and symptoms, so if you just go and buy without knowing the exact cause it will contribute to the resistance when that drug is given to you for the right treatment,” said Dr. Tugume.
Dr. Tugume has encouraged more medical camps to support the District in terms of health Service delivery.
“We call all the good well-wishers to come and collaborate with the District and to have as many as possible. It’s only when people get these services near then we shall stop premature death,” said Dr. Tugume.
Fred Mwesigye, the one spearheading the happening of medical camps in Mbarara says he started the medical camps initiative after the realization that Mbarara District is still having gaps in the health sector that need to be addressed either by the leaders or individuals and the government.
Despite political sabotage from some leaders in the District who are mixing politics with service delivery, Mwesigye asked for cooperation among the leaders and support to the Government in promoting health services in their respective areas.
According to the report from the Medical Camp and the research that was made by the Office of DHO, UTI Infection is the most disease that has been registered which the most people are suffering from.
Mwesigye said that the UTI infection is still a very big problem in the communities of Kashari North. He therefore appealed to the Government of Uganda to set up a special program for Mbarara District especially in Kashari North to combat the outbreak of UTI in these areas. He also said that the purpose of bringing these medical camps is to have people access free health services which include  testing / diagnosis of various diseases and free drugs like Orthopedic medicine among others.
Margaret Ayebare Rwebyambu, the Woman Member of Parliament Mbarara District asked the public to differentiate the politics and service delivery especially health that has no boundaries.
“We need to come down and see where the gaps are in service delivery. Lets always appreciate people / well-wishers like Mwesigye who come in to help the people and the government, because they are filling some of the gaps where the government has not reached,” said MP Rwebyambu.
“I also want to give a call and warn people outside there to stop what we call self-medication especially when we still have chances of medical camps like this one where people can bring services into the community. Please always seek medical attention because it’s all about life. One mistake of overdose or underdose can cost your life. Please always seek medical advice so that you get things that you are supposed to be getting other than simply getting anything that you come across.”
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