Poland in Kenya

On On December 1, 2019, the Wanda Matugga Health Center named after Polish doctor Ms. Wanda Błeńska was officially opened in Uganda. The hospital, built by the InnovAid Foundation in cooperation with the Polish Franciscan Friars, was equipped thanks to the project co-financed by Polish Aid - the Polish development cooperation programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.

The overall goal of this project is to improve the availability and quality of medical care provided to people living in the suburban regions of Kampala. Uganda is characterized by a high incidence of diseases whose full diagnostics and treatment are usually impossible due to the insufficient number of health centers and hospitals. In view of that, as part of this two-year project, the equipment enabling the provision of basic medical care at Wanda Matugga Health Center, including dentistry, surgery, obstetrics and emergency services, will be purchased and properly installed.

Over 700 guests took part in the opening ceremony of the health center, including Archbishop of Uganda Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who consecrated the hospital, local authorities, representatives of the Ugandan parliament and the media. The Embassy of Poland in Nairobi was represented by Consul Ewa Zaleska, who in her speech thanked everyone involved in the timely and successful implementation of the project, and emphasized the strong, historical links between Poland and Uganda. In this context, she recalled a Polish citizen, dr. Wanda Błeńska - the patron of the newly-built health center, who in the years 1951-1994 worked in Uganda, treating leprosy patients. On November 27 this year we celebrated the fifth anniversary of her death.

The implementation of the project will continue in 2020.

Photo: Andrzej Rzepecki / Fundacja Innovaid