Access to Basic Healthcare for Uganda's poorest

Summary

VSO - In 2008 VSO health volunteers saved and improved lives, sharing skills with community practitioners, nurses and doctors in some of Uganda's most impoverished regions. Help us do more in 2009.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

VSO volunteers will directly address malnutrition in children, preventable diseases such as HIV & AIDS and TB as well as treatment of chronic illnesses, poor service, access and care. Poverty is an obstacle to progress and VSO's volunteers address this at grassroots, institutional and governmental levels in the most impoverished regions of Uganda. This project will particularly help vulnerable groups such as children, women and the elderly through counselling, treatment and medical training.

How will this project solve this problem?

One example is at Bwindi Community Health Centre where malaria and HIV & AIDS are prevalent. Volunteer Dr Paul Williams will help Bwindi's 250 surrounding villages build their own sustainable care, treatment and counselling facilities.

Potential Long Term Impact

Because VSO's volunteers pass on skills that stay in the communities, hundreds of colleagues and students and thousands of patients benefit long-term. Vitally, local medical practitioners feel encouraged to remain in their countries.

Project Message

"The clinic that I joined has changed beyond recognition. Thirteen people have become forty Ugandans. In 2007 we tested more than 3000 people for HIV, including more than 900 pregnant women."
- Dr Paul Williams, VSO volunteer, Bwindi, Paul started his VSO placement in 2006.

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources