Many Worthy Causes

For anyone who wants to help me do good things for people here in Uganda, please feel free to use the paypal button on the right.

Some ways that I use this money:

• Giving to the "Poor Patients' Fund" on the Medical Ward in the hospital in Mbarara
• Patients in Uganda have to have a caretaker with them to provide food, prepare meals, feed them, provide bed clothes, wash the linens, clean them, help them with toileting, help administer medications, and purchasing medications, lab tests, and radiology studies for their care. Some patients just do not have the money to do this and they go without needed drugs, tests, and even food. This fund provides support to these most destitute of patients and families. 

• Purchasing drugs and supplies for our "Doctor's Closet" in Bugoye
• We work at a Level Three Health Center in a village called Bugoye. For more about Bugoye see: http://www.massgeneralcenterforglobalhealth.org/stories-from-the-field/a-day-with-the-global-primary-care-residency-program/ 
• The health center in Bugoye often stocks out of drugs and supplies. 
• There are no doctors at the health center when we are not there. Certain drugs and supplies are not provided by the government to the health center because there is no one trained enough to use them properly. 
• The "Doctor's Closet" is a small supply closet in the doctor's quarters where we stay when we are working in the village. We stock it with more powerful antibiotics, antimalarials, and the basic medications available at the health center so that we can always treat our patients. We also stock it with basic supplies for simple procedures and tests that otherwise would require patients to travel 45 minutes to the next health facility in town. 

•  Purchasing drugs and tests and providing support to the "Babies Home" in Mbarara
• There is a home for abandoned babies and children in Mbarara. When I arrived there were 30 children. Now there are over 70. 
• I try to spend time with the babies at least once per week to be sure that their medical needs are being met. Sometimes the children are sick and need medications, tests, or even hospitalization. 
• The Babies Home also needs support for feeding, paying the local ladies to care for them, diapers, clothing, toys, and books. 

• Supporting our "Village Health Teams" in Bugoye
• The MGH GPC program is supporting 23 village health workers in 5 villages in Bugoye to implement the Integrated Community Case Management program (ICCM). ICCM provides training, supplies, and drugs for Village Health Workers to diagnose and treat the three leading causes of illness and death in children under five in Uganda: malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea. 
• The funding available to support our efforts with VHTs is limited. There are always additional supplies that would be helpful, including flashlights or lanterns, batteries, bags, pens, and rain gear. 

•  Other worthy causes
• If you have traveled to Uganda, you may have met a family or child that touched you. You may have met with the "women's group" in Bugoye, or the "elder's group" in Bugoye. You may have met a health professional who told you about a diagnostic tool that would be useful.
• If you follow the news, you know there are many other worthy causes to support. 
• If you have a cause and would like me to help you provide support, please feel free to donate, send me an email and let me know, and I will be sure the money goes to the right place.