This entry by TeamMED representatives Emily, Kirby, Imogen, Milo, Bridget and Hayden (Medical students from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia)
A very busy past 10 days it has been at the Suubi Centre for all of us from TeamMED! We have been working in the health clinic with the Suubi medical team, providing clinician consultation and laboratory testing to locals from the Lubanda village and surrounding areas. We spent five days at the Suubi Centre itself, and did two separate trips out to more remote communities, Nakateete and Kyassonko, where we set up makeshift clinics for a day at each. In all of these locations, patients lined up from early in the morning to see Dr. Robert, have blood taken, which was tested on site, so that results could be interpreted, and treatment administered all on the same day. Patients were required to pay a small fee to ensure sustainability of the project. it was great for our professional development to see how healthcare in Uganda is provided, which is at once so similar to and yet so different from ours at home.
Patients at Suubi Clinic waiting patiently for their turn to be seen.
Once inside patients were accessed by a Suubi medic and TeamMed members. Bridget and Elias, from Suubi Clinic, worked side by side to decide on the testing and treatment required by this patient.
TeamMED students rotated throughout each area of the testing a treatment. Here Suubi student nurse, Deborah, and Imogen worked in the laboratory taking blood pressure and then bloods if they were required for testing.
With so many patients to be seen, another area in the Suubi Clinic was set up for blood to be taken. This was then sent to the lab to be analysed. Above Hayden and Bridget made the best of the alternative facilities that were available.
With the diagnosis complete patients were then sent to the dispensary to receive any medication they required. Emily and Alad worked together to make sure everything dispensed was well recorded.
Outreach sessions at Nakateete and Kysonko were conducted in the local schools. Patients registered as they arrived and waited for their turn to be seen.
Bridget joined Suubi Clinical officer, Robert, as he accessed one of the patients at the outreaches.
Milo made use of the desks in classrooms as he took the blood pressure of this lady.
While Emily used a pillow for support as she drew blood from a patient to be analysed.
Equipment was bought from Suubi Clonic to enable a temporary lab was set up in the classroom.
Some of the younger children were guided by Kirby and Imogen as they showed them the best way to brush their teeth.
While the adult participants learnt the additional importance of dental hygiene, not only themselves but also for providing it for their children.
All of the participants were happy to receive a toothbrush and toothpaste to take home so they can continue to take good care of their teeth.
Kirby and Bridget were happy to join in with the students dancing.
Everyone was very impressed with the knitting and sewing being done by students in the schools new vocational training hall.
TeamMed 2016 and Suubi staff achieved great things as they worked side by side and formed lasting friendships. (L-R Back - Elias, Hayden, Zakah, Robert, Peter, Milo, Alad. Front - Kirby, Bridget, Imogen and Emily.
This project could not have been achieved without the generous sponsorship by the Rotary Club of Box Hill, Melbourne, who donated funds to cover the costs of medications, testing and laboratory equipment, and health promotion materials.
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