Over 2,000 benefit from Ukonga Medical Camp 2025

DAR ES SALAAM: MORE than 2,000 students and families from five primary schools in Ukonga have benefited from Ukonga Medical Camp 2025, an initiative organised by the Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam Oyster Bay (RCODB) to support government efforts in expanding access to essential healthcare services.

The weekend-long medical camp served students and families from Mzambarauni, Amani, Ukonga, Jaica, and Juhudi Primary Schools.

The initiative was a collaborative effort involving RCODB and partner Rotary Clubs of Ukonga, Sunset, Mikocheni, and Mbezi Beach, with additional support from Rotaract Clubs of Kairuki, Alpha, E-Swahili, Dreamers, and universitybased clubs from Kampala International University in Tanzania (KIUT) and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

Speaking during the event, Director of Service Projects at RCODB, Ms Hilu Bura expressed the Rotary’s commitment to supporting underserved communities.

“For many, access to basic healthcare remains a distant dream. Ukonga Medical Camp is our way of saying that no child should miss school due to an untreated illness, and no mother should face preventable health risks simply because care is out of reach,” said Ms Bura.

She noted that the initiative goes beyond medical aid.

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“This camp is not just about medicine, it’s about dignity, hope, and the belief that every life matters. Today, we are not just treating patients; we are healing communities,” she added.

The medical camp supports two of Rotary’s seven areas of focus: Disease Prevention and Treatment and Maternal and Child Health. Ms Bura said the event was made possible through the efforts of over 250 volunteers and 60 medical professionals, who delivered a wide range of free health services.

Key services provided included malaria screening and treatment, dental check-ups and oral hygiene kits, supported by the Tanzania Dental Association, Chemicotex and Deramann Consumer Goods, cervical, breast, and prostate cancer screenings by Ocean Road Cancer Institute, HIV screening and counselling by Management and Development for Health (MDH) and eye care and referrals by Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) Others are mental health awareness and counselling by the Tanzanian Psychological Association (TAPA), menstrual hygiene education and distribution of reusable sanitary pads and screening for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and family planning services, provided by Marie Stopes Clinic.

RCODB President Phillipe Demoulin said the camp was more than just a medical outreach, it was a reflection of compassion and community spirit.

“This camp is a celebration of service and kindness, reflecting Rotary’s enduring motto, ‘Service Above Self,’” he said.

Now in its seventh year, the Ukonga Medical Camp has become a flagship community service project for RCODB, helping bridge healthcare gaps and supporting national goals to improve the lives of underserved families in Ukonga and beyond.

This year’s camp also marked the first major service project of the new Rotary year, aligning with Rotary International’s global theme: “Unite for Good.” It brought together healthcare professionals, volunteers, and sponsors to deliver services directly to the community.