Extra Team Member

It is wonderful to report that Dr Nick and Fiona have been joined by Natasha Brice, a British “Nurse Educator”, who has been working now for some time moving around clinics, educating staff and reviewing their performances.

Natasha has also started a new clinic in the youth prison which she runs twice a week. This is very much needed.

 

 

Natasha teaching in a Health Unit

 

It is a bit late to say welcome to Natasha, but on behalf of Gulu Connection we want to say thank you for coming and we are so pleased that you are raising the standards of care in the health units.

Pete

Nick and Tessa latest news

Nick and Tessa, a wonderful couple who do amazing work for Gulu Connection,  have recently updated their blog. Please click on the link to have a read and find out about their recent exciting venture UgandaPanda

Gemma

Saint Peter's

More transformation

Money makes more of a difference!

In September of last year Pete had the pleasure of visiting Saint Peter’s in Awere. Awere is a small village, a long way from Gulu. It is very needy with a high prevalence of HIV / Aids . The health centre is in rented accommodation which is expensive although there are plans to build anew.

 



The team have a good working laboratory and plenty
 of space

The unit is busy and often patients feel the need
to lie down!

 

St Peter's is in a rural location  which makes the surroundings attractive but also brings its own challenges. The unit was criticised for not putting soap out with the washing facilities by the latrine (blue water container) until it was realised that the bars were being nicked by an enterprising cow who fancied an addition to her diet.

The numbers of patients seen and the standard of care was very impressive. This brilliant story is all the more encouraging because, in the past,  St Peter’s was ineffective and very, very corrupt.

Our Gulu Connection finances one nurse and subsidises another. This is money well spent. We are pleased to continue our help.

Money can make a difference.

OBERABIC
Visit on September 5th
As Good as it Gets

Oh my goodness. Talk about being overwhelmed! First working day in Gulu on my September 2016 visit and wham we were off on a support supervision visit to Oberabic Health Centre.

Oberabic is one of ten health units run by the Diocese of Northern Uganda but is the main focus of Gulu Connection. The unit is in a very poor and rural  area.  A year or so ago Christopher was appointed and has proved to be great in charge supported by Midwife, Gloria and nurse assistant Moses. A further nurse assistant has been appointed recently.

The team was well praised by Nick for the accuracy of their prescribing. I was moved by their commitment each week going on outreach to a very needy area even though they get go extra finance for this.

 

Health Unit and visiting team.

 

The Support of Gulu Connection has made a big difference and has provided for:

• All their medicines,
• Money for a nurse assistant,
• Refrigerator(s) which means vaccines can be stored on the premises,
• Solar electricity,
• Motorbike
• Refurbishment of the staff accommodation (still wholly inadequate)
• Money for a family planning incentive scheme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is very little health provision  in the area. About 4 years ago I got to know a resident of Apaa, a community some 15 miles distance from the unit and now looking to Oberabic health centre for consistent  care and when talking about things he dropped out the sentence, "when our people get ill, they die." It was so matter of fact.

  

Oberabic Heath centre has a good building erected by the USA NGO MAP. MAP also used to provide finance but their generosity was not backed by good management and it was a very poor unit with dreadful staff attendance. Staff have worked hard over the last three years but the going has been tough but now with the new team and added finance,  there is real momentum.

There is much more to do. We are building a washroom and latrine block and started building a two roomed maternity unit (See blog December 2016) assisted by two generous donations by doctors. We are looking for £5000 to complete this life saving addition to the work at Oberabic.

Pete



St Luke's

Money helps

Located about 5 miles out of Gulu in the community of Koro, is St Luke's health centre. It was once a dysfunctional unit based in a run down shop premises - the picture was taken after the then in charge arranged for it to be painted.

 

Old St Luke's

 For about three years, a huge amount of work and effort went  into St Luke's (See Blog November 2013) to improve the standard of care with mixed result. However, one year ago there was a major breakthrough with a newly recruited team of health workers and the start  of a new health centre building financed with assistance of UK health care programme NUHP. The building needed to be completed and Gulu Connection are very proud to have been able to give £5000 to help complete the new building.

  

New St Luke's Health Centre 2

 

 The new team, recruited by Nick, are working very well together. There is an increased number of patients who go to St Luke's with general illnesses as well as for maternity, ante-natal and deliveries. Malaria, one of Uganda's most deadly and biggest of killers, is also treated at St Luke's (see picture below of patient being treated with an IV drip).

 



Patient being treated for Malaria

The team at St Luke's

 

St Luke's is a success story,  ...and there will undoubtedly be more success to follow

Gemma

HAPPY DAYS
Pete's Visit September 2016
Meeting the team.

In September 2016,  Pete visited The Health Coordination team at the Diocese of Northern Uganda on behalf of Nechells and Overseas Care Fund (Gulu Connection).

 

It was wonderful to meet Nick (Dr Laing, health care coordinator) and get to work with him informally, discuss the health programme and visit health units.




also meet Tessa his wife and get a feel for their inspiring missionary lifestyle which includes living in the community and supporting their local church.



Nick and Tessa



St Lukes Church



 

Nick and Tessa's Hut

GOOD WORK AT OBERABIC

Midwifery and more midwifery.

 

 

 

Midwifery

 



Nick and Fiona recently visited Oberabic and sent this video report. Click this Link to see. It is well worth the effort. Gloria describes a hard days night centered around midwifery.

 

 

More Midwifery

 

The ante natal clinic is building up well but deliveries lag behind with many mums still opting for the recklessly dangerous home delivery.

 

We are seeking to address this issue by building a two roomed maternity unit. Here is an impression.

 

 



 

We hope this initiative will be life saving. It will be the biggest single donation made so far.

 



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