Uganda Medical Store Gives $135K to Children's Homes

A medical supplier in Uganda is making sure the country's tiniest and most vulnerable children get the healthcare they need.

The Joint Medical Store launched a Community Health Program worth $135,000 that will provide free medicines to five children's homes over the next five years. Each facility will receive about $34,000 in donated medications tailored to their specific needs.

The program kicked off Wednesday at Theresa Home in Nsambya, a shelter for abandoned babies and toddlers. Acting Executive Director Denise Tusiime Mutambi personally delivered the first batch of medicines to the facility's staff.

"Our commitment calls us to go beyond business operations and actively invest in the wellbeing of the people we serve, especially the most vulnerable," Mutambi said. She praised Theresa Home for providing not just shelter but a safe, nurturing environment for children who have nowhere else to go.

The timing couldn't be better. Theresa Home currently cares for 21 children between four months and three years old, supported by 19 caregivers working in shifts. Since opening, the facility has provided care for 48 children, many of them just days old when they arrived.

Administrator Phiona Nasanga said the support comes as they see growing numbers of vulnerable children. Some are abandoned as newborns. Others are neglected by families or have limited parental support.

The Ripple Effect

The program represents a shift toward long-term community investment rather than one-time charity. JMS plans to organize medical outreach initiatives that will extend healthcare access beyond the children's homes into surrounding communities.

The medicines donated are based on each facility's specific requests, ensuring children get exactly what they need. For infant care facilities like Theresa Home, that means medications suited for the youngest patients.

Theresa Home operates under Teresa Ministries, founded by Fr. Raymond Kalanzi and ten colleagues. The organization runs a sister facility in Najjanankumbi that's been caring for children up to age six for nearly seven years.

Team leader Nantongo Robinah called on more organizations and individuals to support their mission of protecting Uganda's most vulnerable children.

Five years of guaranteed medical supplies means these homes can focus less on scrambling for basic medications and more on giving abandoned children the loving care every baby deserves.