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, September 23, 2010

Dr Nancy Chescheir, UNC Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, joins UNC Project Uganda

Dr Nancy Chescheir, Professor and Vice Dean for Special Projects, joins UNC Project Uganda to improve maternal health and perinatal care. Dr Chescheir will be joining the team on its next mission, Spring 2011.

UNC Project makes first telemedicine link to Mulago Hospital


UNC Project Uganda with the support of the National Institutes of Health, has established its first telemedicine link to the School of Medicine at Makerere University. This crucial next step is part of the expanding goals and objectives of UNC Project Uganda to incorporate telemedicine and distance learning to improve the health of the Ugandan people by improving the education and training of Uganda physicians and healthcare providers. Dr Benny Joyner, Dept of Anesthesia, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine is leading this initiative for UNC Project Uganda.

UNC Project Uganda Partners with Mbarara University of Science and Technology


UNC Project Uganda with support from the GE Foundation has expanded its reach & committment to the People of Uganda by training healthcare providers from the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST). Dr Keith Kocis traveled in May 2010 to Mbarara to formally create the partnership. The goals of the program are:

1. Connect Ugandan physicians to UNC's Health Science Library to allow access it's vast repository of electronic journals, books, and learning modules. This effort is being lead by Ms Mellanye Lackey MSI, Director, UNC Health Sciences Library Global Inititative.
2. Foster regional health care delivery and training between MUST and Mulago Hospital in Kampala.
3. Train a core team of physicians and healthcare providers from MUST at Mulago Hospital while the UNC team is in country for it's annual pediatric cardiac surgery mission (Spring 2011).
4. Dr Tommy Koonce, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, will lead a team from UNC to MUST in Spring 2011 to train Ugandan healthcare providers on site. He will be accompanied by Dr Benny Joyner (Dept of Anesthesia, Division of Pediatric Critical Care) and Ms Robin Deloach, RN PNP (Dept of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery). A comprehensive long term plan will be developed following this mission.
5. Explore telemedicine applications for distance learning and improved patient care.  This effort is lead by Dr Benny Joyner, Assistant Professor of Anesthesia.