UgandAshis 14. Plans

UgandAshis 14. Plans

Kampala, Uganda, June 3, 2009.

Plans

So it has been two months here now. Following a short overview for PGHF and myself so far. Found a house that functions as a guest house for all you visitors, as an office for all the future staff, as a storage facility and as my personal home. I got a working permit and registration as a doctor for the whole of the East African region. The multi entry visa stamp is in my passport. Found three different posts in Fort Portal; doctor in the wards, lecturer at a public health course and clinical instructor at a school for clinical officers. The registration of PGHF as a Ugandan not for profit is about to happen.

There are several organizations, local and international with which we are exploring how and when to collaborate. Given our network in Fort Portal it is likely we will start working there but I am planning to visit Gulu, Mbale as well (Northern and Western Uganda). As a medical organization one of the first things to do is to identify local smart partner-NGO’s that have a track record of quality work with innovative and creative approach. I have the impression we could have found some very strong partners in Fort Portal with similar mission and vision.

One of the earlier blogs I may have written about the young men I saw at Lake Albert who had a chronic and lethal disease called schistosomiasis or Bilharzia. You get it by entering the water that is infested with the vector, snails and the causative agent, a helminth (fluke or work). The medical post does not have the treatment for this disease. In fact treatment is only one tablet of a medicine called Praziquantal, but as people re-enter the water all the time, re-infection is very common. Prevention of the disease requires community mobilization, education, health promotion, change in sanitation behavior, building and maintenance of latrines, killing of the snails with chemicals.

Most people in Semlike region or Lake Albert region do not have access to medication or health staff. It is there where a mobile clinic that supports the local government health care system can be instrumental in a better health for all. The doctors in the hospital are happy to join as are clinical officers, nurses and lab technicians. Often lack of vehicles, gasoline, materials or bad roads hinders health and other programs.

My travel plans for 2009 are as follows:
1. Field visits to partner ngo’s in Mubende, Buvuma Islands, Fort Portal region, Mbale and Gulu
2. Visit to the USA for a month in October
3. Visit to India for 2 weeks in December/January

Visitors confirmed so far
1. A young Dutch doctor, future maxillo-facial surgeon
2. A young public health doctor from the USA

After exploration and registration the phase of grant/project proposal writing is about to take off.

Namaskar,

Ashis