Our Stories

In the first week of September 2025, So They Can, Babati District Council, and partner organisations came together to bring healthcare closer to the people who need it most. Rural school communities that face barriers of distance, cost and a lack of information on health checks and treatments.

The camp provided a lifeline of services — from screenings and treatments to life-saving education. Families came seeking help for conditions like malaria, HIV, diabetes, and tuberculosis. Others arrived for support with nutrition, family planning, dental care, and mental health. For many, it was their first opportunity to receive specialised care, such as eye and ear health assessments, cervical cancer screening, prostate cancer screening, ultrasound examinations, and even access to new assistive devices for children with disabilities.

 2,438 (67% female) community members joined the camp.

The impact was both measurable and deeply personal:

• Identification & referral of children with disabilities: 307 children were identified for disabilities by a team from Patandi Teachers College who then conducted an initial screening;  214 children were assessed for disabilities (visual, hearing, intellectual and physical). From the camp: 29 children, aged 5 months – 16 years old, were referred to our partner Kafika House for corrective surgery for physical disabilities;  1 child will receive a new assistive device from our partner, Kyaro Assistive Tech; 35 children have been referred to Sibusiso Foundation for rehabilitation care.

• Eye health: Out of 854 patients seen, 183 were diagnosed with cataracts and referred for follow up treatment—many now one step closer to restored sight. The availability of eyeglasses, a first for the camp, was another milestone—turning diagnoses into tangible solutions for patients. 572 glasses were provided by Olorien Community Clinic. 

• Mental health: For the first time, the camp had a physician dedicated to mental health. Thirty-five people were diagnosed, with nine cases of depression identified and helped for treatment —patients who might otherwise have suffered in silence.

• Diabetes: Alarmingly, 12 patients learned they were living with undiagnosed diabetes, underscoring the life-saving role of early detection.

• Cervical cancer screening: 177 women were screened for cervical cancer.

• Blood donations: 43 units of blood were donated, a gift that will ripple through local hospitals to support life saving.

So They Can’s medical camps are more than just statistics and services — they provide dignity, access, and the power of community. Together with our partners, we are proving that healthcare is not a privilege — it’s a shared responsibility, and ensures that every child can access their right to education.

Thank you to the Babati District Council, Sibusiso Foundation, Kafika House, Kyaro Assistive Tech, Olorien Community Clinic (for glasses) and Patandi Teachers College for their contributions to So They Can’s Medical Camp.

With the ongoing need for quality medical support in our rural partner communities, we will offer two medical camps in 2026. Together, we can make this vital work possible — please donate today.