The Greenwich Rotary Club collaborated with the Westport Rotary Club on a groundbreaking project to bring permanent dental and vision care to the Bwindi Community Hospital in Kanungu, Uganda. Spearheaded by Rick Benson of the Westport Rotary, this initiative has inspired tremendous support from Rotary clubs and partners worldwide, including the Greenwich Rotary Club.
Rick Benson’s dedication and leadership have been instrumental in mobilizing resources and motivating clubs like ours to take part in this life-changing endeavor. Thanks to his tireless efforts, nearly $300,000 has been raised to equip the hospital’s new Dental-Vision Building. This facility will provide year-round care to a region of 280,000 individuals, including 3,500 Batwa indigenous conservation refugees, who currently lack access to permanent dental and vision services.
The project, identified as GG2350983, includes constructing and equipping state-of-the-art dental exam and surgical suites, a dental X-ray room, eye exam rooms, surgical suites, an eyeglasses lab, and a training space. With the building nearing completion, equipment has already been donated or purchased at discounted rates, and additional furnishings and supplies will be sourced locally in Uganda after the equipment arrives in April 2025.
The dedication ceremony for the new facility is scheduled for May 10, 2025, marking a significant milestone in improving access to healthcare for the region. A team of vision care professionals will travel to Bwindi during this time, further emphasizing Rotary’s commitment to creating sustainable, long-term impact.
The Greenwich Rotary Club’s President, Agathe Likoba and her leadership team eagerly voted in favor of supporting this impactful Uganda project, demonstrating their commitment to global service and improving access to essential healthcare and applauds Rick Benson, The Westport Rotary for their extraordinary leadership. This project exemplifies the power of Rotary clubs working together to address critical global needs and transform lives.
For more information about this initiative or to contribute, please contact the Greenwich or Westport Rotary Club. Together, we can continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of the people of Kanungu and beyond.
