About UNC Project-Uganda

In 2004, a group of UNC physicians established the Amal Murarka International Pediatric Health Foundation in memory of their colleague, Dr. Amal Murarka, who died unexpectedly in 2003. The foundation sent a medical team to Kampala to establish the country's first pediatric intensive care unit at Mulago Hospital, Makerere University, where Dr. Murarka had previously conducted research. Subsequent work in 2007 and 2008 focused on pediatric cardiac surgery. The foundation not only built a cardiac ICU, but also performed a total of 21 life-saving pediatric cardiac surgeries.

In 2008 the foundation partnered with the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases to establish UNC Project-Uganda.

Mission

The UNC Project-Uganda was established to support sustainable delivery of compassionate and competent health care to infants, children, and adolescents in Uganda; to improve the medical knowledge of the Ugandan health care workforce through in-country training and a physician exchange program; and to provide advanced medical equipment, medications, and services necessary for the delivery of compassionate and competent pediatric care in Uganda.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

T minus 48 hours and counting.....

Hi Everyone,

The 22 members of our team are in the final stages before departure on Saturday at 4pm. There has been lots of last minute activity. We had our "Packing Party" last night bringing the final critical pieces of medical equipment, drugs (THANKS Kelly Reeves, UNCH Pharmacy), etc (most donated) to a staging zone (my garage). The team is quite exhuberant. Of course, last minutes snags. One team member had to cancel due to health issues but is being replaced by Lupe Haynes, a respiratory therapist (THANKS SO MUCH LUPE!). We found out the sternal saw necessary for open heart surgery is not operational in Uganda, and so we have been scrambling to find alternatives. We think we have found a solution.

We know all of equipment (anesthesia machine, ICU monitors, ventilators, etc) have arrived on the hospital grounds after being packed, crated, freighted, and flown into Uganda (THANKS SO MUCH Jim Moore from Samaritan's Purse!!). All of our logistics on the ground have been handled by Health Volunteers Overseas (THANKS KATE FINCHAM and Josephine). WE'RE READY TO LAUCH...........

Posted by UNC UGANDA TEAM at 1:28 PM

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