Uganda
The Pearl of Africa
Uganda is a landlocked country located in eastern Africa and shares its borders with five other countries. With more than 40% of rural Ugandans living in abject poverty and the harsh reality of being a top 10 country for HIV prevalence rates, a complex health situation exists. With the HIV epidemic, as well as problems such as malaria and other tropical diseases, lack of adequate maternal and child health services and other complicating factors, the need for access to healthcare facilities, trained medical staff and medical supplies still remains a goal with slow progress for the country.
Traditional Food:
Matoke
Local Language Spoken:
Lumasaaba
Currency:
Ugandan Shilling
$2000
The GDP per capita. Uganda ranks 200 out of 229, making it one of the poorest countries in the world. ⓘ
"The health status of Ugandans is among the worst in the world, in part the legacy of the loss of infrastructure and human resources during the war years, and of the AIDS epidemic." -WHO
Bududa
The FIMRC Station System
Project Bududa stands at the foot of Mount Elgon, 150 miles east of the bustling capital city of Kampala. The dispersed rural communities around the clinic are comprised of a catchment area of approximately 40,000 inhabitants with an average annual income of $200 (in US dollars). Malaria, HIV, gastrointestinal issues and respiratory infections are common health issues among the district population.
Where
Project Bududa sits at the base of Mt. Elon, approximately 260km east of Kampala. Bududa is a remote zone often labeled the "forgotten district".
Why
Project Bududa is located in one of the poorest districts within Uganda. Extreme poverty, a lack of infrastructure and low education levels all contribute to a more complex health situation. We work to beat the statistics and focus on issues such as HIV, malaria and maternal and child health.
How
We partnered with a grade school. We saw a need much greater than our initial efforts. We surveyed the community. We talked to leaders. We built a larger clinic and expanded our medical staff. We strategically developed partnerships to provide additional benefits. We now provide clinical services and outreach programs to over 14 communities.
Learn More About Bududa +
Following the success of our projects in India and Costa Rica, we partnered with a grade school to provide primary care to students. This partnership initially provided the opportunity for FIMRC to administer basic healthcare to the 300 hundred students and teachers that attend the school, as well as serve the needs of the surrounding region.
Although the clinic was constructed in an effort to meet the health and nutritional needs of the school, the severe lack of medical care in the surrounding region makes the clinic an essential resource for the community at large. We therefore expanded services and now run an advanced Health Center III, which serves over 14 commununities in the district. Project Bududa is a star model of FIMRC's approach to healthcare in the developing world.
As a result of scarce access to medical facilities in the area, FIMRC's Project Bududa has the heaviest case load of any of our project sites. The most rampant medical issues plaguing this population are readily treatable with preventative measures, education initiatives and continuous healthcare monitoring. We work with local partner organizations, local Community Health Educators trained by FIMRC and a large clinic staff to meet the needs of the district.
Our Work
Since expanding our services at Project Bududa to encompass more than 14 communities in the area, we, more than ever, have seen the need to actively listen and respond to the current health situation. Input from our medical and outreach teams, clinical data, a community based advisory committee, as well as current groups, have all led to the expansion and continued growth at Project Bududa. With the support of our volunteers, we dedicate our resources to three main areas of focus: clinical activities, health education and special initiatives. Below are a few examples of our work.
Clinical Activities
- Primary care services for patients of all ages
- Antenatal clinic
- Maternity ward
- HIV testing and counseling
- Malaria testing
- Clinical laboratory
- Implementation of Uganda's first clinical station system with innovative database system
Health Education
- Patient Education Program in waiting room
- Women's groups
- Post Test Club for HIV positive patients
- Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Program
- Pregnant women group
- Community Health Educator Program
Special Initiatives
- Health education to community orphans schools
- Malaria net treatment
- Orphan and vulnerable children nutritional garden
Volunteer
Project Bududa provides ample opportunity for volunteers to immerse themselves in a number of projects on-site. Whether you're teaching the HIV Post Test Club, hiking to a far away community in your gum boots to work with the Community Health Educators, or spending the afternoon taking vital signs in our health center, your efforts allow us to better serve the residents of Bududa.
All volunteers have the opportunity to participate in both the clinical and health education aspects of operations on-site, and activities can range from treating bed nets to prevent malaria to a refresher course for our Community Health Educators on how to take vital signs.
Over the course of your trip you'll receive an unfiltered experience in health care field work abroad, and learn about the tremendous impact that even one person can have. At our end, so as to maximize your contribution, we will tailor your experience based on current needs, your interests, training, and amount of time that you spend with us on-site at Project Bududa.
Wondering about the logistics of volunteering? Click below for more information on flights, activities, accommodations, transportation, trip cost, and more!
Now that the 2017 Summer International Health Fellowship has come to an end, we have had time to debrief with field staff, review monthly reports, and have even had the chance to meet a few of our amazing Summer Health Fellows in person! In order to showcase the accomplishments of our Fellows, we have created a SIHF 2017 Impact Report.