Mobilizing for Environmental Preservation and hygiene, the Camp offered numerous services like blood donation, testing, and BMI measurements, among others in Makindye Division.
Yesterday 3Oth September, 2023, Cavendish University Students, Staff members and communities in Makindye Division, In Kampala collaborated to clean-up Communities in Makindye.
This initiative is a testament to the organization’s unwavering commitment to environmental preservation and cleanliness.
The 2nd Cavendish University Community Health Day also involved a variety of activities like: - Health camps offering numerous services like blood donation, testing, BMI measurements, etc.
Bosco Kakembo, a resident of Lukuli-Kirombe Zone, expressed his initial surprise at seeing students approaching his area, he was pleasantly surprised to see the students equipped with brooms and white sacks for the clean-up exercise.
This change in perception from seeing students as potential troublemakers to environmental stewards was echoed by other residents.
The clean-up exercise, in this sense, served not only as a practical act of environmental preservation & keeping the community clean but also as a symbolic gesture of community service and goodwill.
According to the University Management at Cavendish, this clean-up and Health Camp drive was part of the University’s Connect Initiative.
Spearheaded by the University and Students, the campaign aimed to Improve the quality of life for the communities neighboring Cavendish University Uganda .
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| Dr Richard Kabanda, the Commissioner of Health Services, Health Promotion, Education, and Disease Prevention at the Ministry of Health |
During his speech, Dr Kabanda emphasized the importance of collaboration between the university and communities to foster applied research and address the pressing challenges faced by these communities.
The community drive witnessed an impressive turnout, with active participation from dedicated staff, students, Local Council members, and representatives from the Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA).
“Universities should step out of their ivory towers and actively engage with their communities to promote positive citizenship,” explained Mr David Mutabanura, the Executive Director of Cavendish University Uganda, during the clean-up event.
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| Mr David Mutabanura, the Executive Director, Cavendish University Uganda |
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Mugisha, emphasized that health is of utmost importance at CUU, a University situated in an urban area. He further underscored that a university should serve as a valuable community resource. “We want our public health students to actively engage with communities to help people to know what to do,” he stated.
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| Vice Chancellor, Cavendish University Uganda- Prof. John Mugisha |
The Annual Community Health Day serves to fulfill three fundamental objectives which are: community engagement, environmental stewardship, and promoting health and well-being. This year, the University partnered with KCCA, Uganda Red Cross Society and Kiruddu Referral Hospital to support this cause.
Feedback from the Community.
The majority of the residents believe that the initiative can be more effective if the University involves more communities routinely. One resident, Umar Kato, suggested that the students should always engage the locals to educate them about good waste disposal and management practices. Kato argued that without this crucial step, the clean-up exercise might be short-lived as residents could revert to improper waste disposal habits.
PHOTOS OF THE DRIVE.
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