Sorting Supplies...
Today was Labor Day here in Uganda, so we did not go out to the camps. However, we all showed up at the Northwest Medical Teams office to sort a shipment of supplies that arrived just a few weeks ago from the NWMTI warehouse. Wow! Was there a lot of stuff! We sorted through boxes of gloves, dressings, IV tubing, tape, surgical supplies, and so on. These new and wonderful supplies will be distributed to three small area hospitals and 3 health units that serve most of the patients that we see. This will be like gold for them. Some of the things we are having to teach our own staff how to use as they haven't seen them before. I even came across a box that contained preemie diapers! We will also have to do some teaching with the hospitals and health units on the best use of the supplies.
The Health Units and one of the hospitals are government sponsored, however, they frequently run out of medications and supplies.
The patients that we serve in the camps are very poor, so if they require hospitalization or further care in Lira they have to come up with the money. That is actually the first hurdle. Then, in order for us to take them to the hospital or for the hospital to accept them, they must have a family member capable of attending to them. They do not have cafeterias that feed the patients here, so the family must go out and provide food for them. The family also helps to do their laundry, or at times to go and buy their medication at a pharmacy elsewhere.
Last week we had a 10 year old with a fractured arm (another mango tree wins!)that needed to go to the hospital. His family did not have the money, so Elaine, Sally and I pitched in for the $30 for his bill. It turned out that he does not have a father and his mother is blind, but a kind neighbor man agreed to come to the hospital with him. We had another elderly patient that needed hospitalization, but sadly had no one to go with him to the hospital, he had no wife and his children were all dead. Always challenging situations that make you think.
I continue to feel blessed and thankful to be here, Brenda
Today was Labor Day here in Uganda, so we did not go out to the camps. However, we all showed up at the Northwest Medical Teams office to sort a shipment of supplies that arrived just a few weeks ago from the NWMTI warehouse. Wow! Was there a lot of stuff! We sorted through boxes of gloves, dressings, IV tubing, tape, surgical supplies, and so on. These new and wonderful supplies will be distributed to three small area hospitals and 3 health units that serve most of the patients that we see. This will be like gold for them. Some of the things we are having to teach our own staff how to use as they haven't seen them before. I even came across a box that contained preemie diapers! We will also have to do some teaching with the hospitals and health units on the best use of the supplies.
The Health Units and one of the hospitals are government sponsored, however, they frequently run out of medications and supplies.
The patients that we serve in the camps are very poor, so if they require hospitalization or further care in Lira they have to come up with the money. That is actually the first hurdle. Then, in order for us to take them to the hospital or for the hospital to accept them, they must have a family member capable of attending to them. They do not have cafeterias that feed the patients here, so the family must go out and provide food for them. The family also helps to do their laundry, or at times to go and buy their medication at a pharmacy elsewhere.
Last week we had a 10 year old with a fractured arm (another mango tree wins!)that needed to go to the hospital. His family did not have the money, so Elaine, Sally and I pitched in for the $30 for his bill. It turned out that he does not have a father and his mother is blind, but a kind neighbor man agreed to come to the hospital with him. We had another elderly patient that needed hospitalization, but sadly had no one to go with him to the hospital, he had no wife and his children were all dead. Always challenging situations that make you think.
I continue to feel blessed and thankful to be here, Brenda
posted by BrendaTravels | 6:36 AM
3 Comments:
Hi Brenda, its Lesa your neighbor from home. Thanks so much for including us in your email, we really have enjoyed reading your posts about your journey and it was great to hear from you. We have been keeping you and all the poelpe in Uganda in our thoughts and prayers. Stay safe and see you in a few weeks. Love, Lesa
Thanks, Lesa, I appreciate your thoughts and prayers! See you in a couple weeks, neighbor!
Brenda
Lesa, you are doing such good work and much appreciated! If only there were more people like you! Keep safe. I support an organisation called Alice Labol Foundation in Lira and Kitgum who work with orphans and vulnerable children, and Women and Girls.
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