Four years ago, Ice Breakers Uganda set out to break barriers in the health service delivery. The organisation identified a gap in the health sector as many LGBT persons could not freely and confidently access services. To counter this, they set up a clinic that was for four years, housed in a single room at the organisation’s premises.

They created partnerships with several hospitals and health service providers; sensitising health personnel on issues relating to sexual and gender minorities as they went along.  They brought on board Mengo Hospital, Mulago Hospital, MARPI Mulago and most recently Mildmay Uganda. They also started programmes to educate the community on how to go about their health issues as well as providing the much needed services.

Four years down the road, their vision has come to life with the establishment expanding to a bigger space and more client numbers registered. The new clinic space has a fully stocked dispensary, laboratory, doctor and nurses’ rooms. They have also increased the number of examination/resting beds to allow for more clients to access services.

The Clinic Officer at IBU, Brant Luswata in his remarks called on the LGBT community to continue utilizing the services that are being provided free of charge at the clinic. He also encouraged them to put to use the different service providers that have been brought on board.

Dr Frank Mugisha, the Executive Director of Sexual Minorities Uganda and founder of Ice Breakers commended the current management for believing in and bringing to life a dream that seemed farfetched at inception. The Programs Director IBU Dennis Wamala emphasized the organizations commitment to bettering the lives of LGBT Ugandans by bring health services closer to them.