The main purpose of my group's trip is to support community healthcare outside the slums of Kampala. In these rural and underserved areas, access to medical care is a critical barrier, preventing patients from receiving timely treatment for mild to moderate illnesses. This lack of access often results in high mortality rates. By collaborating with established local clinics, we aim to create community outreach programs that will significantly improve access to healthcare. This initiative will not only provide immediate medical support but also foster long-term community sustainability beyond our visit.
The next purpose of my group's trip is to partner with Watoto, an on-the-ground organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable women and children in Uganda. Watoto’s sustainability project, “Keep a Girl in School,” provides essential supplies such as sanitary napkins, soap, and clean underwear to middle and high school girls monthly. By ensuring that girls can attend school during menstruation, we aim to improve community outcomes by reducing teen pregnancies, decreasing child marriages, and enhancing economic productivity through the empowerment of women’s education.
As a clinician with over 20 years of experience and with two family members in college. I am so grateful for the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund a portion of the costs incurred for this trip as additional fundraising is necessary to purchase equipment and other needed items for this endeavor.
While serving in Uganda, our group will visit the slums outside of Kampala, a major metropolitan city. The targeted group in this community outreach will be the highly impoverished and vulnerable women and children. These individuals often face extreme limitations in accessing and affording adequate medical care. The lack of healthcare services in these areas leads to high mortality rates and untreated illnesses. By empowering these patients through community care, we aim to provide meaningful support that will significantly improve their quality of life and health outcomes. Our efforts will help bridge the gap in healthcare access, ensuring that even the most underserved populations receive the care they need.
As an additional project during our time in Uganda, we will work with Watoto villages and community schools in Subbi and Bira, as well as travel to Jinja to serve within those communities. Our target audience will be vulnerable children, particularly girls who often drop out of school due to menstruation. The “Keep a Girl in School” program aims to provide essential supplies such as sanitary napkins, soap, and clean underwear to middle and high school girls monthly. By addressing this critical need, we can help keep girls in school, thereby reducing teen pregnancies, decreasing child marriages, and enhancing economic productivity through the empowerment of women’s education. The sustainability and impact on these communities will be profound, as educated women are more likely to contribute positively to their communities and break the cycle of poverty.
I plan to utilize my friends and family to raise funds for this second project so that kits can be provided to many young women. The goal is to raise $500 for this portion our endeavors and then members of our team (me included will assemble kits with the necessary items).
Care for Community - Uganda with Global Health Impact is hopes to have significant and sustainable impacts on the communities we will serve.
Enhanced Access to Medical Care: By supporting community healthcare outside the slums of Kampala and in rural areas such as Jinja, Subbi Village, and Birra Village, we will provide essential medical services to underserved populations. This will help reduce the high mortality rates associated with untreated illnesses and improve overall health outcomes. Additionally, group members for this trip are individually also attempting to fundraise to purchase an ultrasound machine.
Sustainable Healthcare Solutions: Collaborating with local clinics to establish community outreach programs will ensure that the benefits of our intervention continue beyond the duration of our trip. This will foster long-term community sustainability and resilience.
Increased School Attendance: Through the “Keep a Girl in School” program, we will provide sanitary napkins, soap, and clean underwear to middle and high school girls. This will enable them to attend school regularly, even during menstruation, thereby reducing dropout rates.
Improved Community Outcomes: By keeping girls in school, we aim to decrease teen pregnancies and child marriages. Educated girls are more likely to contribute positively to their communities, leading to enhanced economic productivity and social stability.
Empowerment and Gender Equality: Supporting the education of girls will empower them to pursue their dreams and break the cycle of poverty. This will promote gender equality and create a more inclusive and equitable society.
Collaboration with Local Organizations: Partnering with established organizations like Watoto will ensure that our efforts are culturally sensitive and aligned with the needs of the communities.
Longterm relationships with this community with ongoing contributions to this community is anticipated. Professional growth is inevitable.
Unfortunately due to the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, our team had to merge with another team going to Belize instead. I had to cancel the flight reservation obtained through the Dox Foundation.
The country of Belize is gorgeous. The people were kind and diverse. I enjoyed spending time with the community workers/EMT personnel assisting them in triaging patients, providing education, and conducting exams. I learned a bit about the medical practice of the country. The next day, I spent the day in the only FNP owned clinic in the country. I was able assist with seeing patients with various ailments, learning about the culture and ways of the land.
Seeing health through a global lens is very humbling. It makes one want to contribute more to decrease health disparities world-wide. I would love to contribute my skills on a more regular basis internationally however, I was also able to see the barriers that exist for advanced practice providers to deliver health care services in other countries. One day, I look forward to this landscape changing and being more welcoming to acknowledge and accept the skills of advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants in all countries.
Belize is a country I would love to visit again put my skills to use another time. The Christian camp that hosted our group was gracious and kind. They host medical mission groups every 90 days that provide continuity of care for the community. I thank the Dox Foundation for to awarding me the travel grant that unfortunately, I was not able to use at this time but hope to use one day in the future!
