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Uganda - Medicine and Healthcare

Challenge:: Medicine and Healthcare
Destination:: *Uganda
Departure Dates From:: 01/01/1970

No availability in 2010.

Contact elaine@madventurer.com for more info on alternative destinations!

Based at the Source of the Nile in the sleepy town of Jinja, Madventurer offers a variety of Projects in this incredibly lush and diverse country described as the ‘Pearl of Africa' by Winston Churchill. With opportunities to raft the mighty Nile, trek the ‘Mountains of the Moon' or come face to face with a rare Mountain Gorilla during the weekend, Uganda offers a truly unique experience.

Location
Our Madventurer medical projects are based in Jinja, southern Uganda, located by Lake Victoria on the source of the River Nile. Jinja is a spacious, relaxed town with a market, matatu [a large minibus that acts as a shuttle] park, internet cafes, post office, bars [for cold soft drinks or beers], cafes and small shops that will provide most essentials and a little bit more. Transport is provided by matatus and boda-bodas (bicycles or small motorcycles [pikipikis).

Jinja is about one and a half hours away from Kampala, Uganda's more bustling capital, which is home to a lively nightlife. The area surrounding Jinja is very green, with thick vegetation. The area is renowned for its birdlife and is home to many wild animals, perhaps most famously the gorilla, with half of the world's population resident within the country.

For the more adventurous there is the opportunity to test yourself against the mighty White Nile whilst white water rafting, face the Nile High Bungee jump or go quad biking in nearby Bujigali.

There is also a wealth of things to do in Kampala, whether it's browsing around the famous Owino market; indulging in some western luxuries in the shopping centre, or relaxing around a pool in the hot sun. Kampala's bustling nightlife always promises a good night out.

The Project
Madventurer Medic projects are based at a series of locations throughout Jinja district. The programme that would be put together will depend upon your personal preferences as well your level of medical experience and training.

Your Role
Medics of 3rd year and above can work at the district hospital and children's hospital in the centre of Jinga. Dependent upon the extent of your experience and learning you will be a very active participant in the work that is carried out at the hospital, with the possibility of assisting with births, operations, check-ups, diagnosis and treatment.

The district hospital covers a fairly large plot of land with various large, open green spaces outside where hundreds of outpatients will come on a daily basis seeking treatment and medical advice. There are many departments and wards. Which include surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics, gyaenecology, dentistry, anaesthesia, radiology, clinical laboratory, orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, psychiatry, pathology, rehabilitation and community health.
Due to the limited bed spaces in the hospital only a small handful of these can in reality be admitted, and even then it is dependent upon their being able to find the appropriate funds to pay for their care.

The Children's Hospital provides medical care but the food, clothes and sheets for the wrought iron beds have to be brought in by the families of patients. The staffs at this hospital are fantastic, incredibly warm and friendly.

3rd year medical students who would like to work at the district hospital will need to supply a letter from the head of your University department that confirms the level of study, this would then need to be agreed by the Superintendent at the district hospital in Jinja.

Medics and students under 3rd year will not be able to work in the district hospital, which is non-negotiable, but can help in any of the smaller centers. You can expect to be participating in ward rounds, routine check ups and assisting with maternity patients. There are two smaller health centers located just out of central Jinja accessible using public transport each day. Combined they offer a number of services to their patients including orthopedics, X-rays, dental care, child planning and inoculations. These rural clinics work with people from the rural communities that cannot access or afford the main hospital in Jinja town. Work is divided into two departments: curative and preventive.

The first of these assesses and examines, and then treats patients who come to the clinic and preventative care deals with issues such as school health inspections, home improvement campaigns, safe water and sanitation, immunisation and latrine coverage. The outreach work offered being particularly interesting and rewarding as it offers the chance to get right out into the heart of a community.

The most common illnesses treated are malaria; HIV/AIDS; malnourishment; diarrhoea and illnesses as the result of poor hygiene and water contamination. You can also work at the Aids Support Organisation (TASO) that provides medical testing for HIV/AIDS, counseling, medical outreaches, and drama workshops intended as an educative tool to spread awareness of HIV/AIDS, and social relations.

Out and About
You'll have access to some beautiful scenery in the surrounding areas, and for the more adventurous there is the opportunity to test yourself against the mighty White Nile whilst white water rafting, face the Nile High Bungee jump or go quad biking in nearby Bujigali. An hour and a half away is Kampala, the vibrant capital of Uganda, where there is a wealth of things to do in this attractive city, whether it's browsing around the famous Owino market; indulging in some western luxuries in the shopping centre, or relaxing around a pool in the hot sun. Kampala's bustling nightlife always promises a good night out.

Feedback:

Laura Tucker (22) medic placement in Uganda April 2006:
'Well organised and laid back, it worked very well for me. The best bit was visiting the local health center; I feel I have learnt a lot about medical practice and treatment whilst working with severe financial limitations in a developing country. My placement was extremely memorable and an incredible way of really getting stuck into a Ugandan community. Having weekends off to explore was an excellent relief from the hard work through the week'

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