Considering the future of health provision in Kitgum

Part of the vision of Yotkom Uganda is to assist gifted and promising young students from this community to gain the education and experience they require to be high quality health professionals of the future.

This young man, Fred , is in senior school and has expressed an interest in future medical studies. Our Ugandan Yotkom doctors , Richard and Peter have agreed to mentor him and monitor his progress with a view to possible future sponsorship.
It is so important that we invest in the future medical work force for this community where the population is growing rapidly and the needs are great.
If you would like to help and equip people like Fred please donate to our Yotkom Uganda project.

Evaluating pain management protocols

Dr Ben Warlow is a young Australian Doctor who has a desire to help the poor in Northern Uganda.

In his own words, he has a white skin, but a black Acholi heart.
He feels a strong connection to the community here.
Three years ago he came to Kitgum Uganda and the relationships and friendships he formed here have left a lasting impression and a desire to return.
Ben is working to collect information on the use of pain relief in resource poor settings, particularly for procedures like fracture reductions, burns and wound dressings.

He has made connections with health workers in Yotkom, the Bregma clinic, Givernment Hospital and St Joseph's  Hospital. He is observing procedures and noting effectiveness and side effects of various approaches as well as considering cost issues.

At the end of his four weeks here, he will be making recommendations to Yotkom for implementing best practices in our new medical centre due to open in October.
We trust these  clinical guidelines will assist our doctors and nurses to provide appropriate pain relief for the patients attending our clinic.
Thanks Ben for your sacrifice and commitment to be here.
You have earnt your local nickname of "Oteka" : The great one !
And you are also a friend. (Omera) to many !

Finishing touches to Yotkom medical centre

Synthetic fascia and guttering to avoid the rust problem

Smoothing off defects in the walk plaster ready for painting 

Wall tiles selected for wet areas 

Floor tiles in toilets 

Sinks in each room will encourage hygiene and hand washing 

Moving on at rapid speed

We are making very good progress. The building is full of busy bees working in plastering, plumbing, electrical and metalwork. 

Digging a deep hole to absorb lightning shocks  transmitted from conductors on the roof. There are a lot if electrical storms here on the equator 

It's a big task cooking for a bunch of hungry building contractors 

Providing employment to local businesses

The unemployment rate in northern Uganda is over 50%

Our medical construction has a spin off benefit to the local Kitgum community by providing employment to many local businesses.

Our windows and doors are being fabricated in a local workshop by an energetic team who are taking pride in their work 

Proud of our dedicated team saving lives

On our busy morning round of admitted patients we had to climb over people sleeping on the floors and carers with bowls of food prepared for the sick. The place is buzzing .
We examined a young child admitted the night before with severe life threatening malaria , convulsions and high fever and it struck me the difference these young clinical officers are making to children and families here. Without access to life saving intravenous medications offered in our medical centre , these little children would certainly die.
Later in the day , I asked Nancy, one of  the young medical officers here  what had motivated her to go through all the struggles necessary to study medicine . She told me she had been moved by what she had witnessed of sickness and suffering as she grew up in  rural Uganda and  decided  she wanted to be an instrument used by God to save lives
 . It was good to be able to encourage her and reflect  on the little children on our ward round this morning that she had diagnosed, treated and cured.
It is a real privilege to be here working alongside these dedicated compassionate people.
Thanks to all those in Australia who support our project. You are making a difference to so many people in need here through your generosity.

Laboratory technician taking blood sample for malaria testing 

Rendering of New Yotkom Medical clinic exterior walls 

Please consider helping us reach our target to complete the building project by giving a tax deductible donation.  This can de done by following the guide on the right hand side of this web page or go to:
donate.yotkom.com
We are striving to see the building open by October .

The building progresses

Rear of the building showing site for septic tank being dug 

Digging and constructing by hand a large septic tank

Sifting sand for impurities

Andrew with assistant project manager William, inspecting internal wall rendering 

Walls with plumbing and electrical conduits prior to rendering 

Mesh and concrete ceilings in hallway showing skylights