According to the university, 1,451 malaria cases were recorded, making malaria one of the most frequently reported conditions at the health facility.
By Willy Chowoo
GULU CITY
Gulu University Health Unit treated 9,930 people during the 2025/26 financial year, including more than 2,200 members of the surrounding community who accessed free medical services.
The figures were released by Ojok James Onono, the university’s Public Relations Officer, who said the health facility continues to provide free treatment to students, staff and members of the surrounding community.
Of the 9,930 people treated during the financial year, 4,188 were students, 1,820 were university staff and 1,647 were staff dependents.
The facility also treated 2,275 community members, while 956 were children below five years and 1,559 were people aged between five and 19 years. A total of 7,415 patients were aged 20 years and above.
The figures show that while the health unit’s primary responsibility is to serve university students and staff, it has also become an important source of healthcare for people living around the university.
The report shows that over the year; the Laboratory visits went up to 8444 with 6,732 of those visits were confirmed positive cases.
Malaria remains leading concern
Malaria was among the major health challenges recorded at the facility during the year.
According to the university, 1,451 malaria cases were recorded, making malaria one of the most frequently reported conditions at the health facility.
The university says it has continued receiving support from the government, particularly through the National Medical Stores, which has supplied medicines to the facility.
Onono commended the government for providing medicines on time, saying the supplies have helped the health unit continue providing treatment to patients.
Community gets free treatment
The university says opening its health facility to the surrounding community is part of its broader community transformation programme.
Of the 9,930 patients treated during the year, 2,275 were community members who accessed services at the facility.
Onono said the health unit is one of the ways the university contributes to improving the lives of people in the surrounding area, alongside its education and agricultural outreach programmes.
The university attaches students to farms to support farmers in the region and also sends student teachers for higher education as part of its community engagement efforts.
He said the university is proud of the role played by the health unit in supporting the community.
“Under health, this is what we do. We treat people free of charge,” Onono said.
However, the university acknowledged that the number of people accessing the facility from the surrounding community remains lower than the number of students and staff who use it.
Onono said the primary objective of the health facility remains providing healthcare to students and university staff, while continuing to support the surrounding community.
