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.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

We're here!

It is my great privilege, pleasure, and honor, to be traveling with the team this year. I listened to reports of the previous missions and hoped that one day I might be able to journey there with the team. That day came Saturday and we arrived in Uganda late Sunday evening and we've been non-stop busy ever since.

Monday was spent unpacking boxes and boxes and boxes of supplies and then setting up the OR and the ICU. The cardiologists screened and echoed the potential patients and chose two for surgery today. When we got here this morning though one of the kid's Xray indicated he had pneumonia and his surgery has been postponed until later this week. He's been started on antibiotics and another patient has been chosen.

Nursing lectures are about to start and with good fortune one of us will be able to get back on to blog some more later today.

Diane Yorke PhD RN
Clinical Assistant Professor
UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing

2 comments:

jenn said...

Hey UNC team! It's Jen! I am so glad to read that you have all made it safely! I look forward to reading about your experiences through the blog. Enjoy your time there, it all seems to go by so quickly. How many cases are you planning this week? Get those muscles warmed up for some major chest P.T.! Love to you guys, Jen Olsen

UNC UGANDA TEAM said...

Jenn: we've 10 cases planned but already did an addon -- septostomy of a kid needing a switch procedure for transposition of the great vessels. This will buy him some time and we're all hoping we can figure out a way to get him the surgery he needs. Everyone is working hard and getting tired but still remaining in such elevated spirits. Thanks for thinking of us.
Diane