Generator fully functional

Malcolm spent most of today working with a local Mechanic, Samuel on the generator at Bregma Medical Clinic which has been out of action for many months. We brought essential parts from Australia and relied on valuable advice from one of the Yotkom support team, Lucas Levy along the way.  The parts fitted perfectly and Malcolm was very impressed with Samuels skills and ability to improvise. An electrician helped to hook everything up to the switchboard. This will greatly assist the smooth operation of the clinic during frequent power outages, especially with medical devices and diagnsotic equipment which require more power than the solar can deliver. The Xray machine is a prime example.  Dr Vincent and the team are very excited to see this new development in capacity.

Unfortunately, malcolm missed out on a beautiful lunch prepared by Winnie, the wife of John Paul Kiffasi,  chief administrator at IGF/ Childcare. 

They kindly invited us all over for a meal in their home and it was s special opportunity to reconnect with the IGF team and hear more about their direction, vision and plans for the future, especially in the provision of health care  services to this community.
We also enjoyed hospitality at the home of our clinical officer, Peter spending time with his wife Sheila, son Shadrack and Mother Bensi.

Earlier in the day some of the medical team attended St Josephs Hospital. Childrens Ward, Medical and Surgical Wards

 

 

 

Dr Vincent  was very excited to receive the XRAY plates sent over by Sue Reid after her recent time in Kitgum. This will help the Bregma Clinic Xray capacity.

 

Settling in

 

We are finding our feet here after a busy initial couple of days getting settled into a base. We went for a walk last night and met some of the local families.

Today we attended the St Josephs morning meeting including a teaching session, then we split up to go to medical, surgical and paediatric wards to work alongside the African health professionals. Its a difficult time of transition, trying to adjust to the different way of practicing medicine here and being confronted with advanced disease and suffering in a setting which does not provide adequate health facilities, drugs or support.  Doctor Laurel saw a 15 year old girl suffering uncontrollable muscle spasms as a result of Tetanus and was also quite concerned to help the hospital provide better pain relief and symptom relief for those suffering terminal illness and medical procedures.

Andrew found it quite a new experience to wear a white coat on the ward rounds ! He saw cases of Sickle Cell disease, malaria, pneumonia and severe anaemia amongst the 50 children on the ward.  A very breathless child was also found to have an acute air leak (Pneumothorax) and required a chest drain.  We all found it a very medically challenging day but we hope to get into a routine of attending the wards every morning. At the Bregma clinic they have an established vaccination program which is good to see and have also recently been approved by the government to be a HIV /AIDs testing and counselling centre.

 

 

 Malcolm has been able to drive dr vincents car around the town and is quite adept at dodging massive pot holes . Shirley has started to tackle the book work at the yotkom office and drug shop, helping to get good reporting in place. Unfortunately, Hannah has been sick with gastric symptoms and had to stay home and rest today.  We have been very blessed with some helpers to do our washing (Sarah) and cook some nice meals for us (Joyce).

 

We have a HOME

Thankyou to all those praying for us to find a place to stay in Kitgum.
We were left in a difficult situation after the original offer of accommodation was withdrawn at the last minute.
Our African colleague Dr Vincent was able to locate a house for rent and we have spent the day collecting items of furniture and bedding and trying to put together a liveable home which we can use as a base for the next three weeks.
Its been challenging and tiring but we are planning to sleep here tonight and welcome our other team members, Lynnette, Hannah and Laurel after their long drive up from Kampala.
Tomorrow we hope to give something back to the community in the way of medical work and other practical assistance. Our African friends and the team hetre have been very resourceful, generous and loving to us.

 

Team arrives safely in Uganda

Andrew and Anne Wright are currently travelling on route to Kitgum with Shirley and Malcolm Kampe. We have stopped over for two nights at Murchison Falls as part of the road journey north from Kampala, the capital city. Kitgum  is about a 8 to 10 hour bus trip from the capital .
While at the National Park we have been able to see some african animals and scenic beauty.
Our Australian colleagues, Lynnette and Hannah, Nurses from Sydney will be joining us in Kitgum during  this week along with Laurel Coleman from the USA. Our focus will be on improving quality of medical care , teaching, mentoring and sharing knowledge between us and our Ugandan medical professionals.  Other activities include repairing the generator at the health clinic and building up our business and project reporting and accounting. Please pray for our time in Kitgum which will be close to three weeks . We will seek to keep you updated .

Malcolm , Shirley, our driver Grace, Andrew and Anne

Thankyou Gateway Baptist for gift of SOLAR

Thankyou to Gateway Baptist Church Brisbane for the donation which allowed Yotkom to install Solar power at Bregma Primary Health Clinic in Kitgum.
This has provided an ongoing significant boost to the medical team working here .

In January 2013 our small team from Australia were able to assist with  this process.

A short 5 minute video is available on the link at top right of this web page.

Groundbreaking

We have had an exciting day, seeing a bulldozer at work on the land ear marked for a purpose built medical clinic in Kitgum and bringing together several days of business development and IT work. Andrew P and Andrew W had their last day working together. Its been a really productive time and I believe we have made an awesome  "A" team . We have seen so many answered prayers and some wonderful strengthening of relationships here and the Yotkom project has moved ahead considerably and built stronger foundations.
  Andrew P heads down to Kampala tomorrow on the bus, followed by Andrew W on Monday.
Please clck on the link below for pictures and stories

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Kitgum continues

We are working away busily here. Andrew P is immersed in IT challenges, helping the Yotkom drug shop and Bregma clinic with computer hardware problems and also assisting with developing business reports , monitoring and development. He is quite at home in Kitgum now, heading off on his own to buy chapati for lunch today and exploring local IT shops at ease!
 Andrew W met with the Yotkom directors, Dr Vincent , Dr Charles and Dr Peter tonight. It was very encouraging with a sense of unity and purpose as we discussed  our vision , encouraging developments and challenges we face. Some of the day was spent setting up an emergency room at Bregma, arranging  the ECG, oxygen concentrator, suction equipment and O2 sats monitors which came from Australia.
The colposcope and Slit lamp and steriliser will take some time to put into service.
 All the boxes in the storeroom were also sorted out into types of medical disposables so they can be easily be accessed  when needed. A young woman presented with severe asthma, received  adrenaline and AW was able to do some clinical teaching using ventolin via spacer with a remarkably quick response to that. our new oxygen concentrator was also quickly put into service !
Tomorrow we hope a bulldozer will do some ground breaking work at the Yotkom land site in preparation for a future purpose built clinic, God willing...and funds allowing !
thanks for support and prayers !

Please click the link to see some photos.




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