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.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Wednesday Update








So far the cardiac surgeries have gone fairly smoothly. The first two patients had correction of their surgical defects without any difficulty and both are eating and recovering in the ICU. In fact, we left the OR at 9 p.m. last night, which is awfully good for the first day. The first patient for day two is in the ICU recovering, while the surgical team is in the OR with the second patient. It will be another 9 p.m. evening for the team.

The team has been fatigued by jet lag and varying illnesses (flu, GI upset, dehydration, etc.), but we have rallied around each other to support our sick colleagues and pick up the necessary work loads. We will continue to monitor our team's ability to complete the 10 scheduled surgeries. Thankfully, we came well prepared with a wide spectrum of medications to treat every possible ailment. IV fluids have been given without problems. We hope all of us will soon return to our healthy state and that no one else becomes ill.

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