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.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Saturday in Uganda

I can hardly believe it is Saturday..... The Uganda, UNC and DC teams have been working extremely hard since we all came together last Monday. Initially, we located the medical equipment and supplies that were shipped over, began un-packing and organizing equipment, and set up the ICU in order to take care of the patients. We then started education and training for the Mulago Hospital Staff, screening patients for surgery, and are now taking care of patients in the ICU.

Today we have one Cardiac Surgery case, that is now in the "theatre" (operating room). This will be the 7th patient since our arrival. The children are all doing very well. They have wonderful families, and the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen!

Yesterday, we were able to visit the Pediatric ICU that we came over in 2005 to set up. We took medical equipment and supplies to the unit, and were greeted by several smiling and familiar faces that we met during our 2005 mission. The PICU had two very sick babies when we visited. We arrived just in time to round with the PICU team. One of the babies had been diagnosed with meningitis, the other with renal failure.

I have been spending time in the Neonatal ICU as well. We shipped medical equipment and supplies for that specific area. Un-packing and organizing equipment, as well as teaching and training for the Neonatal ICU has been a great success thus far. The Neonatal ICU is a large and busy unit with approximately 80 babies. They have two nurses to care for all of these babies as well as admissions. The mothers are encouraged to stay with their babies and care for them around the clock.

We have much more to do in the days that lie ahead...Continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

--Tiffany Mabe






Posted by UNC UGANDA TEAM at 4:31 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)