FAMSA PARTICIPATES IN BARHD MEDICAL CAMP BARHD (Bushenyi Alliance for Rural Health and Development) has over the years been organizing medical outreaches in several districts in the greater Bushenyi (western Uganda). They usually have an average of two outreaches in the middle of the year with a team of different professions including doctors, dentists and others from several countries. The activities range from community education on various topics (sanitation, family planning, environment and nutrition etc), free medical treatment, consultation and checkup, school visits to antenatal care and immunisation among others. Most of the venues used for the BARHD outreaches are extremely remote areas in the Western Uganda and the population often does not have access to proper and adequate healthcare services. Even medical practitioners tend to find it extremely to work in these areas. BARHD was formed in 2006 as a non-profit, humanitarian organization for purpose of providing secondary education and basic healthcare services to the people in rural southwest Uganda. BARHD sponsors close to 300 students in secondary schools and 12 university students as well as operating four rural health clinics. Established in 1968 and with permanent headquarters at the University of Ibadan (Nigeria); FAMSA is a project oriented body of African Medical Students who seek to be actively involved in tackling the peculiar problems of the African continent, especially as it regards health, and directed at improving the quality of life of Africans, advocacy and inspiring Africans to take their future into their own hands, the future of their health and development. FAMSA was this year privileged to be represented in this life changing experience to both the communities and the medical students at large. The president (Ephraim Kisangala) led a team of eleven medical students (Including the FAMSA treasurer) that participated in the outreach over the one week period. BARHD fully sponsored these medical students for the outreach. Duration: one week (9th – 17th June, 2014) Venue: Four districts (Bushenyi, Buhweju, Mitooma and Sheema) in Western Uganda Target population: The general population in these districts Activities included; Dental services (including Tooth Extractions) Free Medical consultations and treatment Cheap reusable Sanitary pad making Antenatal care services to the pregnant women Provision of “mama kits” to the pregnant women Health Education Blood pressure screening Malaria testing Voluntary HIV testing Launching of a maternity ward and staff house in one health centre (Dr. B clinic) Tree planting at Dr. B Clinic
Highlights of the Outreach; Foldscope:a cheap paper foldable microscope that can be used to detect above 2000times the usual light miscroscope. I had discussions with Prof. David Durrica who was in touch with the inventor- Prof. Manu Prakash, (Stanford University) over how medical students in Africa could benefit from this invention. He is to follow that up and get back to us. The passion and joy demonstrated by JoAnn Belknap (Often refered to as Grandma B) in serving the communities. Despite her old age, she’s always very happy and active. Some of the venues used for the outreach are extremely remote with neither electricity nor telecommunication network. Beverly Clinic (in Buhweju) is almost three hours drive from the main road with a very poor road network The population in these hard to reach areas need health services as much as those in the towns. There is a need to continue involving even more students in such medical outreaches so as to provide services to the rural communities and learn about life in the extremely remote areas.
Participants BARHD team included; Amy Williams (President BARHD) Dr. Ron Williams (Dentist) Dr. Jamie Belknap (Dentist) Dr. Sherri Durrica (Oncologist) Prof. David S. Durrica (Geneticist) Joe Hausknecht (Part of Dental team) Bria (university student from Canada) JoAnn Belknap (Main donor for the Maternity Ward and Staff house in Dr. B clinic) Brady Williams(university student from USA) Sister Ephrance Nuwamanya (Coordinator BARHD) Phillipa Kulabako (Asst. Coordinator BARHD) Medrine (Education-BARHD) Eliot Ahabwe (Laboratory student in Mayanja Memorial Laboratory School)
Medical students included; Ephraim Kisangala (FAMSA President) Seere G. Bonny (FAMSA Treasurer) Okeyo David Atemi Eric Byamukama Solomon Faith Biribawa Olaboro Jackson Othieno Bernard Joseph (Friends of IRISE KIU) Buddu Atwiine (Friends of IRISE-KIU) Sharon (Friends of IRISE KIU)
Guests during the outreach There were several guest on different days during the outreach including; •
Vice President of Republic of Uganda (at Kibingo Girls School)
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State Minister for Health Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye
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Minister of Water and Environment, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu
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Local Council V Chairman Sheema District (Pasteur mugisha)
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District health Inspector Sheema District
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Several other Councillors and officials from Sheema District
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Woman Member of Parliament Sheema district
Do follow this link to catch a glimpse of what happened thru the photos http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AYsXLZm5ZOHVw