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, April 19, 2011

Rude Awakening

Our mission is coming to a close.  The experiences will never be forgotten.  From lost baggage for 5 days to being locked out of my sleeping quarters for 24hrs. Then my entire team drove off without me at the Mall. Its a good thing I have a little sense of humor.  Overall its been a journy of sorts.  Trying to keep kids alive long enough to get them over the hump using Bipap to the realization that some were not going to saved, the long hours are worth it wihen you see those faces a few days later.  The first missions trip I went on in 2009 was well planned but also gave me a false sense of hope. On this current trip would be the same.  Instead it was like a peditric MASH unit.  The more we tried to help the more the news got out and this brought even more patients.  We covered peds ed, triage, acute care, 28 day and greater neonatl unit and of cousre the PICU and we still had patients lined up from the wards that needed PICU.  In the mornings 75% of the beds in acute care are empty the patients are discharged overnight.  By 11am there is no room in the inn, by 4pm its overwhelming it seems there is no end in site  Every child admitted was started on oxygen and had an IV placed.  Not sure of the reason behind this.  Because there is a shortage of flowmeters, pulse ox's its difficult to determine who needed what until you wlak by and notice a child struggling to breath. Up to five child at a time will be place on one flowmeter using a water bottle with needles stuck in it to bleed oxygen to who ever needs.  In the end it does not matter as long as evrey pattients needs were meet.

Sheila White RRT.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sheila it sounds like things were much tougher this time around. I'm sure it was hard work. I know you did your best for the children of Uganda. Hold your head up high and know that you changed so many lives. Miss you and get back safely.

Lupe

Anonymous said...

Sheila it sounds like it was much tougher this go around. I'm sure you gave your best and I know the children that you were able to help were thankful. I'm very proud of you. Miss you!

Lupe