State House has held a medical camp for its staff to promote preventive healthcare, encourage early diagnosis of illnesses and improve access to essential health services.
The exercise, held on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Okello House in Nakasero, offered a range of services, including HIV and tuberculosis (TB) screening, cancer screening, hepatitis B testing, blood donation, screening and treatment for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and physiotherapy.
The initiative was organised by Nachwa Viola, a counsellor and HIV/TB focal person at State House, as part of efforts to improve staff welfare and support the Presidential Initiative to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Held under the theme “Early Detection, Lifelong Protection: Your Future,” the camp also featured health education sessions on disease prevention, treatment adherence, mental health and the importance of seeking medical attention before illnesses become severe.
Hope Nyakairu, the Under Secretary for Finance and Administration at State House and guest of honour, encouraged staff to undergo regular medical examinations, noting that a healthy workforce was essential for institutional productivity.
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this important State House medical camp. This camp is a clear demonstration of our commitment at State House to the health, welfare and well-being of our staff and their families,” she said.
Benon Twinobusingye, the Assistant Commissioner and Head of Human Resource at State House, urged staff to take advantage of such initiatives to identify and address health conditions early.
“Today, we had a medical camp for our staff. We acknowledge that the health and well-being of our staff are paramount, because healthy staff are productive staff,” he said.
Twinobusingye added that promoting the welfare of public servants was a government priority that had also been emphasised by the President.
“As a government, it is our policy to promote the well-being of staff, and the President has also emphasised this,” he said.
During the health education sessions, speakers emphasised the importance of HIV testing, combating stigma and ensuring that people living with HIV can access treatment and lead healthy lives.
Dr Stephen Watiti, a 73-year-old man living with HIV, shared his experience of living with the virus for decades while receiving treatment.
He explained that antiretroviral therapy had helped suppress his viral load and enabled him to maintain his health.
Watiti urged people living with HIV to seek medical care and adhere to their prescribed medication, warning that stigma, misinformation and failure to access treatment could contribute to preventable deaths.
He also highlighted the importance of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, urging women to know their HIV status and undergo testing during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
He noted that women who acquire HIV during these periods need timely diagnosis and treatment to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to their babies.
On tuberculosis, Watiti stressed the importance of screening, early diagnosis and treatment. Participants were encouraged to seek medical attention if they developed symptoms and to avoid stigmatising people affected by the disease.
The sessions also highlighted factors that can increase vulnerability to illness, including HIV infection, diabetes, poor nutrition, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Mental health was another area of discussion, with Watiti urging participants to recognise possible warning signs and understand that mental well-being is an essential component of overall health.
The medical camp included a blood donation exercise in support of patients requiring transfusions.
Lilian Nantambi, a senior blood donor recruiter at Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, said approximately 50 units of blood had been collected by the time she spoke.
She noted that a single unit of donated blood could help save the lives of up to three people, depending on how it was processed and used.
Nantambi encouraged voluntary blood donation, particularly ahead of periods when supplies may become limited, noting its importance in supporting patients who require transfusions.
Meanwhile, Dina Kebirungi, a public health specialist from the Uganda Cancer Institute, urged staff to undergo routine cancer screening to improve the chances of detecting the disease before it advances.
She cautioned that some cancers may progress without obvious symptoms, making regular screening and timely medical assessment important for early intervention.
Viola, the camp organiser, said the initiative was intended to encourage staff to take greater responsibility for their health and undergo routine testing.
“Today’s main goal is to promote a healthy life among our staff members because good health results in a healthy workforce. We always encourage our staff to test and know their status in all aspects of their health,” she said.
Annette Mukabera, a Special Presidential Assistant on Political Affairs, welcomed the exercise, saying it gave staff an opportunity to undergo medical tests and learn more about healthcare, particularly cancer prevention and screening.
“I am very pleased about the medical camp we have had, something we always look forward to. Through it, we learn a number of things. In this camp, we have been able to undergo testing and learn about medical care, particularly regarding cancer, which is increasingly becoming a concern, and much more,” she said.
Dr Samuel Oledo, a member of the State House medical team, encouraged staff to maintain healthy lifestyles through regular physical activity, balanced diets and routines that accommodate exercise.
“You can eat well and exercise, regulate your diet and make sure you exercise,” he advised.
Richard Beyunga, General Secretary of the Achievers Initiative SACCO for State House staff, thanked the organisers, saying employees had benefited from the medical services and tests offered during the camp.
He called for the exercise to be organised at least once every quarter to enable staff to access regular health checks and identify and address medical conditions early.
Dr Paul Steven Ayera Atari, Assistant Director at the State House Health Monitoring Unit, said the camp was in line with the Presidential directive for ministries and government institutions to implement workplace wellness programmes.
“This medical camp is in line with the Presidential call for every ministry to conduct wellness programmes at their workplaces. These programmes are not limited to physical exercise but also include ensuring that people have adequate nutrition, sufficient sleep and regular medical check-ups,” he said.
Ayera added that periodic medical examinations were important because some health conditions may not present symptoms in their early stages but could be detected and treated through routine screening.
The exercise underscored the importance of preventive healthcare, health education and early intervention in promoting staff welfare. Organisers and participants also called for sustained wellness initiatives to help staff access regular medical services and maintain healthier lifestyles
