July 28, 2016 Meeting of West Bay Rotary

Returned on Sunday from a medical mission trip (with an oncology focus) to Uganda.

 

10 Years ago – Rotarian, Mary Tenant wanted to travel to Uganda.

 

She installed public toilet blocks.

This project provided a job for a woman who kept it clean

Helped to clean up the slum

Instilled some pride in the community.

 

In 2014 Carolyn was looking for an international program

Uganda was recommended by two members of rotary.

A team of 6 Rotarians traveled to Uganda for two weeks just to learn about the culture and to find out what rotary was doing there.

 

YPO – Youth Passionate Organization.  Group of youth that use music to spread message about peace/conflict resolution & to stay in school.  This will help with violence long term. 

 

They obtained a global Grant – brought the youth here – worked with Friends Forever on peace and conflict resolution.

 

She traveled to Uganda two years in a row to coordinate details of cultural exchange.

They had done work with an orphanage and formed a strong bond.

 

Stephen Mamjuangi – introduced Carolyn to a project.  A real need in the country was to address cancer and the increase in cancer diagnosis in the community.  Stephen made a pledge to the community to build a cancer center.  Through a series of fundraising events, he was able to get a 38 bed cancer center built through local contributions.  They couldn’t accept patients without supplies – Carolyn committed to a partnership & obtaining equipment.

 

Nsambya Hospital – was the private hospital partner.

 

Global Grant

Rotary – $100,000 grant for equipment and vocational training teams

Partners for World Health – Medical Equipment – basic materials. Provided two containers of equipment.  $50,000 to ship two containers – value of donations $500,000.

Nsambya Hospital – Working with their staff – they needed the staff to be able to open and run.  For the past two weeks, they have been training.

They need to do the following:

Cancer Center is complete & open but it’s completely empty.

They are able to complete some outpatient procedures – chemo

 

The Inpatient rooms are empty.

 

Cancer is on the rise in Uganda 

Maybe because folks weren’t previously getting diagnosed

Environmental factors like smog has to take a toll

Diet – processed foods

 

They are focusing on cervical, breast or prostate - but honestly they will treat all cancers.

 

By the time people get their diagnosis they are in late stages of their disease.

They had to train all providers across the continuum to communicate and look at a combined approach to patient care.

 

The take away – the clinicians know how to treat cancer – they need support and equipment.  They need assistance with awareness.  Need to get the word out to the country side for regular screenings.

 

AIDS in Uganda was rampant a few years ago – it’s under control as a result of much hard work.

How as Rotarians can we work with Rotarians to transfer communication about cancer to the community.  Early stages of cancer can be treated. 

 

25,000 participated in the cancer run

 

Rotary does make a difference. 

 

Q&A

How do you recruit clinicians for this project?

Staff is already there.  They hire staff members to get this up and running.  We can’t pay them long term – that is the work of the Ugandan Rotarians.

 

Type of cancer?

Breast, cervical and prostate cancer – also saw a lot of stomach cancer.

 

Radiology Equipment – where does it come from?

The only radiology equipment recently failed - After the machine failed their goal is to get a linear accelerator

Stephen is committed to making it happen – they have a radiologist that is working on obtaining a gently used machine.  Fifth annual cancer run to raise money at the end of August.  Want to begin putting small cancer centers across the country?

 

Where does the funding come from to pay for their services?

Government health services pays for some – it’s complicated.  It’s something that needs to be addresses nationally for them.

 

LL Bean donating 50 packs

Want to fill as many as we can.  Filled 20 last year.  

 

Lobster Ride – 1,000 riders

Raised about $1,500

 

Boats Homes & Harbors – Sunday August 14

Couple of openings left for volunteers.

May be making some changes to volunteer spots because some are over booked.

 

Chowder Challenge

We’ve got waterfront and mariners on board

7 participants so far – we would love to have another participant.

 

Special thanks to Jan Campbell for hosting the most recent Tiki Time at her home!