Uganda

Panyandoli Medical Clinic support at the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Uganda

September through December 31st 2010 reporting period

Project Goal

Through the funding support of World Children's Fund (WCF), our goal is to upgrade and maintain the Panyandoli clinic to high hygienic and operating standards; to restore optimal function back to the levels prior to IRC pull out and reduction in UNHCR support.

Project Objectives:

• Provide medicines, medical supplies, emergency medicines and medical support
• Support the Health Management Information System Maintenance (staff and petrol supply)
• Maintain hygiene at clinic to Best Practice Western standards
• Complete kitchen structures or enhance existing structures for Malnutrition Ward and Main Center
• Provide cooking materials such as charcoal stoves, saucepans, utensils, etc.
• Contribute towards the provision of electricity for main center pump to facilitate water to the health centre facilities
• Provide some incentives to the health workers in form of gifts

Summary of RMF-sponsored activities carried out during the reporting period under each project objective (note any changes from original plans):

• RMF/WCF provided the Panyandoli Health Center with medicine and supplies for the period of September to December 2010.
• Grounds are groomed and cleaned regularly and the wards and offices are well maintained and hygienic.
• RMF/WCF repaired the borehole at the health centre and installed a new solar powered system to provide clean running water to all health centre facilities.

Results accomplished

The coordination of a new supply of medicine to the clinic has made a significant difference to the community and has increased the clinic’s treatment capacity and overall reliability. Medicine was supplied earlier than scheduled due to drug shortage crisis at the centre. The health clinic’s medical stores had been depleted quicker than usual and the Kiryandongo Hospital had no medicine for this period.

The wards are clean, and equipped with medicines and supplies, this is all a joint effort of RMF/WCF, the Masindi local government, and UNHCR. But RMF/WCF is so profound and praised in this project because it always provides quickly during times of great need.

The grounds are continuously cleaned and maintained so that everyone feels safe to walk around without fear of being bitten by snakes.

The Solar Powered Water Pump has been installed successfully and is now providing clean running water to the clinic offices and wards which should greatly increase hygienic conditions of clinic.

Number of direct project beneficiaries

In the month of July 4,000 patients visited the health centre, out of which 1,799 were male, and 2,201 were female. The highest prevalent disease was malaria, followed by URTI, and intestinal worms.

In the month of August 4,200 patients visited the health centre, out of which 1,987 were male, and 2,213 were female. The highest prevalent disease was malaria, followed by acute malnutrition.

In the month of September 4,137 patients visited the health centre, out of which 1,873 were male, and 2,264 were female. The highest prevalent disease was malaria, followed by acute malnutrition.

In the month of October 4,003 patients visited the health centre, out of which 1,393 were male, and 2,610 were female. The highest prevalent disease was malaria, followed by acute malnutrition.

In the month of November 4,500 patients visited the health centre, out of which 2,005 were male, and 2,495 were female. The highest prevalent disease was malaria, followed by acute malnutrition.

During this reporting period, the health centre lost one child due to AIDS related complications.

Notable project challenges

• A further influx of about 10,000 new Ugandan IDP refugees arrived in October due to an earthquake. This added many new patients to the clinic.
• Because the outlying community of 30,000 in Bweyale also depends on the clinic for health care, medicine inventories are often depleted quickly as the demand exceeds the government’s and UNHCR’s budgets for medicines for the refugee settlement.
• The staff quarters continue to be compromised and there is no budget for performance incentives. 18 families, who live on site, share only 2 latrines and a fallen kitchen structure to prepare meals. Enlisting their support for additional programs at times is difficult.
• Incinerator needs to be installed. It was bought by UNHCR but no budget for installing it to make it functional.
• Some pipes are blocked because they had been unused for so long.

Solar water project installation at Panyandoli Health Centre:

Success Stories

James was sick suffering from malaria, when Charles reached the health centre with the new supply of drugs. He was immediately put on a treatment drip after the drug verification. When I checked on him the next day, he said he was feeling better and convinced he was already cured.

Mwajuma was sick suffering from malaria and had stayed for few days here without successful treatment due to shortage of medicine. When Charles reached with the resupply of drugs, she was put on an IV drip and after two days felt cured and starting worrying about the children she left at home and was discharged. She praises RMF and WCF, if RMF/WCF had not brought the drugs at that time, she wouldn’t have been able to leave the health centre.