Strengthening the Islamic Medical Association of Uganda- Women’s Branch

By Aisha Naava

Women being a vulnerable group, many of them are more prone to many health issues like maternal health issues, sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, chronic illnesses, mental illnesses and much more, they need more special attention because they have less power to make decisions and be independent in Uganda.

Islamic Medical Association of Uganda (IMAU) is registered as a non-governmental organization and trusteeship and was established in 1988 with a vision of a sound Islamic medical association of Muslim health professionals with excellence in Islamic health service delivery.

IMAU membership consists of Muslim health professionals and has 20 branches, eighteen of which are parent local branches and two countrywide operational branches.

Local branches include; Apac/Lira, Arua, Hoima, Jinja, Kampala, Kapchorwa, Mbale, Mbarara, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Pallisa, Iganga, Southern region, Tooro, Wakiso, Yumbe.
Operational branches include; IMAU women’s branch and IMAU students branch. 

On 23rd/March/2024, IMAU President- Professor Kagimu Magid, organized a special women’s general meeting at IMAU headquarters located at Wattuba, 14km Bombo Road Wakiso district and invited Kampala Minister, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda as the guest of honor.

In this meeting, a number of issues were discussed and these majorly focused on bringing Muslim women on board to participate in the assessment and management of health challenges faced by women at various health facilities in different branches and the whole country at large.

Furthermore, Muslim women health professionals to serve the country to improve the quality of life with special attention to fellow women.

We had continuous professional development (CPD) training entitled ‘‘concept of Islamic hospitals’’ by the Medical Superintendent of Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital, Dr Anwar Kakeeto who emphasized the need to establish more Islamic hospitals in the country and world at large, as IMAU mission states that “to have united Islamic conscious Muslim health professionals who use Islamic teachings to promote a healthy and productive life for all, these hospitals will majorly focus on health care provision in regards to principles of Islam which is the complete way of life and also clearly states rights of a girl child and woman in Qur’an. 

Another CPD entitled “ibaadah friendly hospital” was conducted by the administrator of Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital – Mr Lubowa Ali Ali,  who also encouraged Muslim women health professionals to incorporate Islamic teachings in their day to day life as they provide health care to patients because every service you render to a patient is an act of worship (ibadah).

The organizer of the event, Professor Kagimu who is also the president of IMAU  emphasized that during health care provision, there should be justice for all including for the oppressed like children, women and others as regards the Quran 4:75. He also added that women should be protected by men as it is said in quran 4:34. The IMAU president –Professor Kagimu also laid a future plan for Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital that is needed to be put into place with different specialties including those for women and invited for financial support in order to make this dream come true, inshaa Allah. 

The guest of honour, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs encouraged Muslim women to work hard and act as examples to their children and community at large. She also encouraged Muslim women to get involved in political affairs at different levels and present to the government the challenges being faced by other women in the various communities in order to get them addressed so as to improve and promote the quality of life among women in the country and world at large.

In this very meeting, the IMAU- women’s branch elected women leaders for the posts of president, vice president, general secretary, assistant general secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer and five committee members. These are to serve the community through identifying challenges and needs of the women in various communities of the country, which will be noted and brought on board in order to identify possible solutions as a team.

In this regard, we call upon more Muslim women health professionals all over the country to join the Islamic Medical Association of Uganda -Women’s branch to participate in the achievement of the organizational goals as we serve Allah selflessly in the reception of rewards from Allah.

The author is Ms Aisha Naava; the General Secretary – Islamic Medical Association of Uganda Women’s Branch (IMAU-WB) and Nursing officer working with Kawolo General Hospital -MUWRP.