Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) launched the first-ever First Aid and Disaster Mobile Clinic in Uganda at an event held in Nakivale refugee settlement, southwestern Uganda in March 2024. Supported by esteemed partners including the Kuwait Red Crescent, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Netherlands Red Cross, and Austria Red Cross, the launch was attended by the Vice President of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, Anwar Abdullah Al-Hassawi, URCS Chairman Central Governing Board Dr. Khalid Kirunda, and representatives from the office of the Prime Minister and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The mobile clinic, stationed on wheels, is expected to significantly enhance first aid services and basic prehospital care during emergencies. Currently, it is supporting refugees residing in Nakivale refugee settlement and the surrounding host community, especially with the current influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo due to ongoing conflicts with the M23 rebel group.

Addressing attendees during the launch, Dr. Kirunda Halid, Chairman of the URCS Central Governing Board, emphasized the increasing frequency and severity of global emergencies. He expressed gratitude to the Kuwait Red Crescent Society for their positive response to the identified gap, resulting in the provision of the mobile clinic. Dr. Kirunda further underscored the collaborative efforts to extend similar services across all regions of Uganda.

Anwar Abdullah Al-Hassawi, Vice President of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, commended URCS for diligently fulfilling their humanitarian mandate. He expressed joy and satisfaction at the launch of the first aid and disaster mobile clinic, pledging continued support from the Kuwait Red Crescent Society and proposing further assistance to enhance URCS’s emergency response capabilities.

URCS Director Disaster Risk Management, Dr. Brian Kanaahe, highlighted the longstanding partnership between URCS and other partners in responding to emergencies affecting refugees and internally displaced persons. He emphasized the critical gap in providing prehospital care services to vulnerable populations and outlined the objectives of the first aid and disaster mobile clinic in offering rapid prehospital care and stabilizing casualties during emergencies.

Joel Kitutu, Project Manager of the Pilot Programmatic Project Partnership, explained that the mobile clinic in Nakivale will complement the efforts of Medical Teams International (MTI), UNHCR’s official Emergency Medical Services partner. He clarified that the facility is intended for emergency response purposes and will only be activated or deactivated based on specific situations.

The launch of the First Aid and Disaster Mobile Clinic signifies a significant step towards providing essential healthcare services to vulnerable populations in refugee settlements and underscores the collaborative efforts of URCS and partners in building resilient communities and promoting human dignity.