Uganda: Panyadoli Healthcare Project

Abul Yar Chol

Abul Yar Chol was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition during the daily screening of new arrivals from South Sudan at the reception centre clinic by a Real Medicine Foundation clinical officer. Before someone gets a full document from the registration desk of UNHCR, s/he must have undergone a screening, detailing the health condition of the person. On the 26th of December 2014, Abul Yar Chol was screened and found to have extremely low weight considering his age; a MUAC indicated red. Chol was quickly referred to Panyadoli Health Centre III. Yar was admitted to the pediatric ward where he was treated as an inpatient for three weeks.

His immediate treatment included Mebendazole, Vitamin A, F-100 nutritional milk and RUTF. After three weeks in Panyadoli Health Centre III, Yar had gained weight and his MUAC indicated yellow.

Yar and his mother were discharged home after being officially registered as refugees and received a plot for home construction in cluster N. However, Abul Yar Chol’s treatment and care by RMF team continued. RMF VHTs continued monitoring Yar in his mother’s home and supportive treatment was continued by an RMF doctor. As a result of the treatment, Yar became a true success story, indicated by changes in his MUAC from yellow to green with continued weight gain. His mother, who was traumatized by the events in their home country and by Yar’s suffering, now feels much better. With RMF support, she is now able to provide nutritional meals to Yar and her other children, following a tutorial by an RMF health promoter in healthy family meal preparation.

Monduru Fadila

Monduru Fadila, a 4-month-old refugee from cluster L was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition and admitted to the pediatric ward at Panyadoli Health Centre III. He was identified by RMF community health promoters who immediately brought Monduru and his mother to the health facility for treatment. The baby was malnourished as a result of his mother having very little breast milk, which was not enough to feed the baby and she could not afford nutritious food. This happens frequently to mothers in the settlement when there is direct shortage of food because some of the mothers sell off the food given to them to basic items like clothes.

Monduru was treated with IV Ampicillin 150mg 6 hourly, IV Gentamycin 20mg od, Panadol Syrup 2.5ml 8 hourly for 3 days. He was also given therapeutic feeding care with F-100 nutritional milk. After 4 weeks, Monduru was discharged, continuing his medication orally.

Adom Chol Dau

Akom Chol Dau is a 32-year-old refugee living in cluster MR. She presented at our health center with severe malaria due to lack of proper shelter and a mosquito net. Akom is a pregnant mother and is very delicate so she cannot manage erecting shelter by herself. This remains a challenge for her and other women arriving with their small children at Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, most of the time without a husband or other male support since many of the men have been killed in the war in their home country, South Sudan.

Akom was started on treatment with IV Quinine, Dextrose 500ml, and Panadol tablets. She was discharged in good condition and given a mosquito net. RMF is also coordinating with partners to make sure she receives proper shelter.