ENTEBBE, Uganda – Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services in Uganda (CoRSU) launched its annual fundraising walk on Thursday, aiming to raise 400 million Ugandan shillings (about $106,000) for life-changing surgeries for children with disabilities.
Under the theme “Bring hope to children with disability,” the walk seeks to fund 300 surgeries, purchase new medical equipment and renovate the hospital’s Outpatient Department.
The launch event brought together corporate partners, media and community members.
Bakidde Aloysius, the chairperson for the CoRSU Walk Committee, said last year’s walk raised more than 78 million Ugandan shillings, which funded 16 surgeries and helped the hospital procure essential physiotherapy equipment.
“The smiles we saw and the parents’ tears of relief are memories that fuel our mission every single day,” he said.
Robert Ochai, CEO of the CoRSU Walk, noted the hospital has performed more than 70,000 surgeries and rehabilitated more than 100,000 patients since its founding in 2006.
“The annual CoRSU Walk demands that we act, invest, and become the bridge between despair and possibility,” Ochai said.
According to a 2014 Uganda National Population and Housing Census, 12.5% of Uganda’s population lives with some form of disability, and 92% of those cases are treatable. The census also found that 80% of childhood disabilities could be addressed if specialized services were more accessible and affordable.
CoRSU Hospital performs an average of 5,246 surgical procedures and 12,500 therapy sessions annually. Children account for 80% of the surgeries.
The hospital is a private, not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization established in 2006. It focuses on providing accessible and affordable preventative, curative and rehabilitative services.
Donations can be made through MTN Mobile Money (Paybill Code: 599 393) or Airtel Money (Paybill: 4369 188). For more information, call the CoRSU Customer Care team at 0761-002111 or 0761-002157.
