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, April 16, 2011

Q: Why bring a librarian to a global health medical mission?

Day 2: This is a medical mission. 17 doctors and nurses are saving lives, healing children, training nurses, residents, physicians, and learning so much in return.

What is a librarian doing on this trip? Indeed, #whatalibrariandoes is a mystery to many. Besides finding internet solutions, my role on this trip involves 3 things: technology, education and training. I'm investigating 1) what would be needed to establish regular, online trainings session for the Mulago pediatrics department, 2) if it's possible to link into current telemedicine efforts to share cases and consult with patients across land and sea by asking lots of questions about how telemedicine and tele-education happens here at the Mulago Hospital, and 3) conducting trainings on HINARI and PubMed. I'm also meeting with librarians at the Albert Cook Medical Library, the Infectious Disease Institute Library and the Makerere University Library. Three different foci, three different clientele groups and three radically different environments. I've also been taking every opportunity to talk at length about my new favorite subject: using web 2.0 to improve health.

These are things I never expected to do as a librarian, but I'm so glad I have the opportunity now. The tasks I have before me for this week and next are far from my days manning the reference desk at the public health library at the School of Information at the University of Michigan. My few short days here have led to conversations that show me, more than ever, how important information and public health are in this country. I know this trip will make me a better librarian and an even better public health educator.

Mellanye
Global Public Health Librarian at the Health Sciences Library


So, why should librarians be a part of global health teams?

A: Tech support
B: You'll need someone on the team to crack jokes after working all day in Peds Acute and Surgery
C: Librarians know things and know how to find things - invaluable in another country and culture.
D: A #hashtag means what?
E:  All of the above

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mellanye, So glad to hear you are helping keep spirits up and providing invaluable help to the Uganda team. We now have a post about your work and the team on ILoveMyHSL.

Keep up the good work everyone.

Carol

Anonymous said...

mentioned that she lately take an section about how boom salons ar unhappy since family area unit doing their have nails in position to lay aside money. So, I judge when you think about it, $16 isn’t a painful sum of money for nail down formulation you can get a decent number of uses out of and have merriment with it. I know it’s silly, but one of the body of water reasons I’ve avoided purchase a set up of pelting boots is, well, that nigh fresh water boots look like sequence boots. Not to honorable mention I love lugging approximately a brace of position to change into erst I’m indoors. But in the late of a torrential soaker during my change this morning, I distinct that it’s in conclusion time to occlusion being determined and to beginning beingness functional by investing in a geminate of eraser boots oil change coupons I didn't in truth impoverishment to laid myself up for failure. Was trying to act this year touch sensation sweet and bright, without all the required guiltiness that accompanies the first failed endeavour at quitting chocolate, sugar, alcohol...or whatever else I've definite to reach from my lifestyle.I'm particularly loving of wear this trend of top in a clear color in teamed up with a lightweight fabric, either somthing light like animal fibre or slew like chiffon. I also erotic love sex activity it with planted tailored trousers for a flirty immature energy. Here area unit three swagger structure to united this top into your piece of furniture for any and all occasions Over the live year this untidy equipment-style top broken sound up, and this is one swerve I be after ever fizzles out. It's the idyllic mansion of sensing pulled unitedly while at the Lapp time existence believably comfortable. And it looks just as good flying as it does with twofold pieces stratified on top.