Two years ago I responded to a request for an EMAS medical team received from RAMBIA, a small NGO near Fort Portal in the far west of Uganda. I was already scheduled to be in Kenya so it was relatively easy to add a trip to see Rambia. I was met in Kampala by Rambia's Executive Director, Daniel Bwambale and after a 4 - hour bus ride to Fort Portal I found myself on the back of Daniel's motor bike slip-sliding up a muddy trail to meet his Board. I learned that the community had pooled their resources from various activities such as bee-keeping and brick making and used the funds to build a small health centre. The centre consisted of two buildings: one housing a dispensary, laboratory and consultation rooms; and the other, under construction, but planned to accommodate a maternity ward and in-patient department. In spite of few resources, difficult circumstances (the mud road, no water, no electricity, no money for regular salaries) they were determined to improve the conditions of their community. And they had taken the initiative to find us and ask for a medical team to come.
The clinic has a staff of 6:
- Bisunga Wesely, Clinical Officer in charge;
- Biira Maureen, Comprehensive Nurse;
- Baloko Johnson, Nursing Assistant;
- Muhindo Besa, Nursing Assistant;
- Kemigisha Florence, Enrolled midwife; and
- Mudama Fred, Laboratory technician.
The addition of the maternity ward is a major initiative by Rambia to try and address the problem of high maternal and infant mortality. Women living on the hillsides rely on Traditional Birth attendants to deliver their babies and in the event of complications can't get to a hospital or have access to the most basic of meds and treatment. So one of our objectives this trip is to support in any way we can Rambia's drive to help mothers and babies. A number of EMAS donors have contributed funds to complete the Maternity Ward and we are looking forward to seeing the progress made.
The exact location if you'd like to try and find them on Google is Kyamukube Trading Centre, Nsurra Parish, Katebwa Sub-County. Rambia is an amazing organization with a mission to improve the lives of the rural population and Daniel, the volunteer Executive Director, and his Board are resourceful and passionate about what they do. We are very fortunate to be working alongside them.
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