Mwenya Uganda's First Mobile Clinic

Dr. Davis carrying out HIV tests

After a 12 hour bus ride from Nairobi, two of the Mwenya Uganda UK Directors, Elizabeth Bailie and Laura Cuddon-Large, were met by Dr. Elvis in Kampala, Uganda. Dr. Elvis is the programmes co-ordinator and deputy to the Country Director, Jhon. This was the beginning of endless 'mwenya-ing' (smiling!). The two directors couldn't believe the reception that welcomed them in Uganda with so many handshakes, hugs, smiles and 'you are so very welcome to Uganda's. From the moment of getting off that bus Elizabeth and Laura knew that Mwenya Uganda's UK team couldn't have been working with a better Ugandan team. 

The Ugandan team have been working extremely hard for a long time to raise awareness of Mwenya Uganda to the people of Uganda. With permission from the Chief of Bussi Island, the Police and the Headmistress of the school that was to be used as a clinic, a handful of Mwenya Uganda volunteers drove round the island a week before the clinic, with a PA system to tell people when, where and what to expect from Mwenya Uganda's services on the 5th June 2011.

Saturday evening, some of the 40 Ugandan volunteers made their way to Bussi, the beautiful island situated on Lake Victoria. Here, they slept in the school and were ready to set up for the clinic early in the morning. Sunday morning saw the rest of the 40 odd staff pack into a 'taxi' (bashed out old minibus) to reach the Lake's edge. Here they crossed the river on a wooden canoe and reached the beautiful island where there are absolutely no medical services and residents have never seen a mobile clinic come to their island. One of the most powerful elements of the Mwenya Uganda clinics is that people native to the community volunteer to help with the running of the services. Some 20 extra students from the school in Bussi volunteered to record the details of every patient.

By 9:30 in the morning 100 people were queuing for Mwenya Uganda's mobile clinic: HIV testing, deworming, dental treatment and consultation service. It wasn't even due to open until 12! With a PA system blaring out Ugandan music to keep everyone in good spirits and directing people to the different services, the sun shined on the green area outside the 3 school buildings being used as clinics. The chief of Bussi expressed such gratitude from Mwenya Uganda's services and said that many people have to travel 26km by boat to Entebbe to find such services. The price of the travel and the treatment make it almost impossible for people who live on Bussi to access such services, as the majority live on under $1 a day.

Jamal, one of the founders of the Ugandan team, explains
to a mother that she can call a Mwenya Uganda dentist
if she has any dental problems in the future.

The most popular treatment was the dental service, with over 400 patients being treated throughout the day. Every patient was given Paracetamol and antibiotics in an envelope, with written dosages and Dentists' phone numbers on the outside. Local volunteers from the school explained to their fellow community members and dental patients that they can ring the dentist's personal number any time, if they experience any further problems; another example of the sheer dedication of the professional Ugandan dentists and doctors to help others in their country. 

Overall the very first Mwenya Uganda clinic was a HUGE success.

We treated 642 people in one day.

This figure shows that so many people needed medical attention. This was one community, and showed the Mwenya Uganda team that they're on the right track with their services. Ugandans helping Ugandans, communities helping themselves, unpaid and dedicated, the Ugandan team's unbelievable commitment and passion for helping people in their own country is so inspiring.

Thank you so much for all your support already, this could not have happened without you. Please continue supporting us so we can run more mobile clinics and reach more communities. The website donation will be up and running very soon at www.mwenya-uganda.org