Monday 23 February

On Saturday we journeyed to Kagando taking in a brief stop to show Sabuni who was driving us the Cafe. Hopefully he will make it a regular stopping place as he transports various people backwards and forwards to Kagando in the months ahead.  It’s a 6 to 7 hour journey so we were grateful to be able to spend much of yesterday recovering.

We have had a gentle introduction today with a ward round on male ward for me and Ann visiting the school briefly. The patients were a fresh reminder to me if I needed it of the complex nature of many of the medical problems occurring here. 3 patients with HIV all brought their challenges while two others had severe anaemia with haemoglobin levels of only 3.1 and 1.9 respectively (the normal in the UK would be over 14). A medical student on her first day here who was going round with us found it all pretty mindboggling I think.

This afternoon we had time to look at the agricultural project whose produce is sold to help sustain the hospital. It was impressive to see the chicken rearing and cow projects. It has certainly given much food for thought as to how we can best utilise the land at Ekiwumulo to help sustain the orphanage and school along similar lines.

Martin a visiting agriculturalist and Ann with a 4 week old calf

Lots of huge cabbages which will sell for 3000 UgSh each

Chickens all nearly ready to lay Eggs currently sell for 300 UgSh each

Kagando on the face of it seems little changed physically but as far as personnel is concerned nearly everyone is new. Of the medical staff only 1 clinical officer and the paediatrician were here 2 years ago. The Ugandan junior doctors just out of medical school have only been here for 3 weeks and are often having to cope on their own with very complex and difficult medical problems. It could be an interesting and challenging 3 weeks ahead.