Not only health professionals, but all kind of coworkers are invited to join the journey team, because there is also a lot of work to do that does not require medical skills. We will visit Lyantonde, which is a rural region of Uganda where there is almost no medical care available. Because we do not know the working conditions we will find there, we should be prepared to serve through all kinds of work.

For further information send a mail to Sh. Ulrike Gross from Cologne (Ulrike.gross@gmx.net).

Information about health system and common health problems in Uganda

Uganda is located in central/east Africa right north of Lake Victoria near the equator. Most of the country is about 1000 meters high, and the climate is warm (not hot) all year with moderate humidity.

The mortality of children under 5 years of age is very high, about 10 times as high as in western countries. Mortality is caused mostly by infectious diseases and malnutrition, which is due to a lack of basic health and nutrition information and not so much due to a lack of food.

The three main health problems in Uganda are HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. There are some regions in Uganda where there are about 20% of the population infected with HIV.

The health system of Uganda is on a very low standard. This is caused by a lack of responsibility of health professionals. They try to get their own benefit from medical resources instead of serving the sick and needy people. Health professionals also often don’t have proper medical knowledge. Because of all this, rich people in Uganda go abroad to get medical help.

Information about vaccination and malaria prophylaxis

Vaccination against yellow fever is not officially required, but very strongly recommended.

Before travelling to Uganda, checkup of basic vaccinations like diphterie, pertussis, tetanus, measles, rubeola, polio and parotitis epidemica is recommendable. Because of the tropical climate, also vaccination against hemophilus influenza, hepatitis A and B, typhus, menigococci and rabies should be considered.

Against HIV there is no vaccination so far. Therefore it is important to strongly avoid direct contact to blood of patients, e.g. to wear examination gloves.

Malaria prophylaxis is recommended. Malarone, Lariam and Doxycyclin can be used. Malarone is very expensive, but has the least side effects. Lariam can cause a reversible psychosis. Doxycycline is cheap but there are regions in Uganda where Malaria plasmodia may be resistant against this medicament.

To avoid moscito bites that carry malaria it is recommended to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants after sunset and to use a repellent and sleep always under a moscito net. Because sometimes moscito nets in hotels are not tight any more, it is better to bring your own moscito net.

Report on the Bethesda Mission Hospital building project

As far as we know from letters from M. Luke Lim, Bethesda mission hospital was planned to be a five store building with a parking lot in the cellar and the clinic and the UBF center in the first floor. However, because Dr. Joseph Chung and more coworkers will join Bethesda Mission team very soon, these plans were changed and now the whole fist floor is planned to serve as clinic rooms. The second floor will be used as UBF center and guest house, and the floors above will be a youth hostel. So far, the concrete walls of the first floor are ready and the walls of the second floor are under construction. Originally they wanted to finish the outside walls of the whole building and than continue to prepare the rooms inside. But now they changed plans and want to get the first and second floor completely ready first and than continue with the other floors above. That means that in February 2010 the first and second floor will be ready with the help of God.

Purchase of an autoclave for Bethesda mission clinic

With the help of God, a small used autoclave could be purchased from ebay. This is a medical device to sterilize medical instruments. The autoclave was in use in an outpatient clinic before. Due to new hygiene standards in Germany, these small autoclaves are not allowed in Germany any more. The autoclave seems to be o.k., but has to be tested more thoroughly. It weights about 35 kg and has the size of two microwaves. We pray to purchase also some sterilization boxes. The autoclave will be brought to Uganda with the mission journey team in February 2010. We pray that this device may be helpful to minimize the risk of transmitting HIV and other infectious diseases. We pray that God allows us to bring the autoclave to Uganda without any difficulties with the airline or with the customs.

Isaiah 49:6b "I will also make you a light for the gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the very ends of the earth."

The annual Medical Mission outreach to Lyantonde for 2009 took place from the 26th to 28th  of January 2009.  This was the 3rd UBF free medical camp in Lyantonde, Uganda. This year there was a great increase in the number of volunteers. From Korea, 21 people including Physician(Dr. Hana Kim), General surgeon(Dr. Byungchol Kim), Pediatricians(Dr. David Park, Dr. Joseph Ahn), Orthopedic surgeons(Dr. Luke Jung, Dr. Yoonhong Kim), Oncologist(Dr. Chiyoung Park), Family doctor (Dr. Changgyu Oh) and Dentist (Dr. Inhan Yoon) participated. From Germany, Cardiologist (Dr. Samuel Lee), Pediatrician (Dr. Titus Keller) and Dentist (Dr. Maria Keller) joined the team. From the USA, Senior Consultant Pediatrician from Chicago UBF (Dr. Joseph Chung), ICU nurse from Indiana (Younse Wert) and Dentist (Dr. Sam Zun), Family Medicine Specialist (Dr. Hannah Zun) from Cincinnati participated. The Ugandan team was comprised of Pediatricians(Dr. Luke Lim, Dr. Lilian Ogwang),

Chest Physician(Dr. Samuel Yoo), Oncologist(Dr. Abraham Omoding), Anesthesilogist(Dr. Spekcy Mbula), Pharmacist (Patrick Ogwang) and other support staffs who made sure that everyone in need got the help needed.

On January  25th, 2009, all the medical personnel and the support coworkers embarked on the 2009 medical outreach visit to Lyantonde organized by the University Bible Fellowship and ICOD, a Lyantonde based community NGO. It was quite comforting that some members of the team had attended one or both of the previous outreaches. Due to the gradually strengthening bond between the UBF outreach team and the community in Lyantonde, the degree of involvement went far beyond mere short medical volunteerism and has over time developed into a long-term collaboration. Needless to say, the UBF team was happy to contribute to this growing relationship in yet another way. On the first day, Dr. Titus Keller from UBF Germany taught many of the waiting patients at Lyantonde hospital about HIV/AIDS, its spread and treatment after infection. This was very well received by waiting patients and curious onlookers.

Within the span of 3 days, the team performed 20 operations – all under the conditions rivaling the most hardened of any surgical field hospital, where the lack of running water, working surgical lights, and functioning instruments created an additional element of difficulty. Most of the procedures consisted of providing relief to the patients with gigantic goiters and hernias, tumors, burn scars. However, since surgical care has always been hard to come by in many district hospitals of Uganda, and Lyantonde was no exception to this rule, the operative log covered a multitude of problems that required surgical intervention. Despite all of the challenges mentioned above, most operations went as smoothly as expected, with all patients doing well.

HOPE

The growth of the medical mission ministry in UBF started as a small outreach ministry. But over the last three years there has been a great increase in the number of personnel willing to come and participate. This year even artist was part of the team and did face painting. It is hoped that the mission will go beyond offering medical services but will attract professionals from water and sanitary engineers, construction specialists, agricultural extension workers and many others. There was great work of God among participants. God opened their spiritual eyes and touched their hearts that many participants made decision of faith to join mission field in near future. Though it was short period to experience mission field, they saw the reality and necessity of mission field. May God use them preciously for His redemptive work in His time. This year more Ugandan UBF members joined medical mission. Many of them are medical professionals so  they could serve  Ugandans with their knowledge and skills. Ultimately, it is the most desirable that Ugandans serve their own people. Many members  experienced unutterable joy when they served the sick. It was a time for practical teaching of  Jesus’ love and to serve the needy for Ugandan UBF brethren. It was also a wonderful fellowship opportunity between Ugandan brethren and coworkers from abroad. They shared their feelings and prayer topics together. Subsequently they could realize that they were one in Jesus Christ and precious coworkers for God’s work.

Unfortunately many patients especially the elderly couldn’t be helped due to a lack of specialists. It is hoped that future outreaches will encompass ophthalmologist so that some of these services may be covered. Furthermore UBF chapters from around the world made a Christmas offering in 2007 to help HIV/AIDS orphans in Uganda. Through collaborating with FOCUS (Fellowship of Christian Unions) Mulago Children Project, UBF plans to support them. There are many HIV orphans and vulnerable children in Lyantonde district. 2007 UBF Christmas offering will be used to help them this year.

COMMENTS

Dr Titus Keller from Koln UBF lamented the lack of basic knowledge and facilities at the hospital. He reiterated the call of the other doctors that there is more that needs to be done in terms of creating awareness and education on basic health issues. In the pediatric clinic, the services included the monitoring and evaluation of malnourished infants, multivitamin supplementation, mass deworming and information and education campaign on health and nutrition. Dr. Keller said they found out that the most prevalent disease of children here were acute respiratory infection and skin infection. According to Dr. Park Chi Young from Kwangju UBF III, most of the adults suffered from acute respiratory infection and arthritis such as rheumatism and degenerative osteo-arthritis. Dr. Hannah Kim from Kwangju UBF I , was very excited at the opportunity of being able to volunteer this year. She had a mixed reaction to the whole experience. She said she was happy but

sorry. She said "I was extremely happy to be part of this team this year but I saw there are too many patients. I witnessed first hand that even with limited drugs, there can still be a difference!" Dr. Maria Keller from Koln UBF seemed to reecho the same sentiment. She said "there was no time to educate the people about oral hygiene because the patients were too many. May be we should plan for this on our next visit"

Dr. Samuel Zun, UBF medical mission director lauded the efforts of all the doctors and volunteers. He hinted that in the future, a complete hospital will be established to train Ugandans locally to help their people instead of doctors having to come here each year. He said "Uganda has excellent potential to carry on this work. All that is needed is the will, stewardship and responsibility to accomplish the great task ahead of helping the most vulnerable in every way" Dr. Joseph Chung from Chicago UBF was also optimistic that even though the state of the health conditions is still deplorable, there is hope. He said, "About 50 years ago, Korea was even in a worse situation than Uganda currently is. All that is needed is a huge education drive to make people aware of how to avoid disease" Dr. Samuel Lee, a cardiologist from Koln UBF commented that the medical mission should not be like ‘a drop of water on a hot stone’. He said that even though follow up of

patients after such medical missions is difficult and limited diagnostic facilities, community leaders and community people should be educated on basic health care. Dr. David Park, Kwangju UBF III director, recognized the need to send more surgeons, dentists and tropical medicine specialists in the future. He said "We spend a lot of money on equipment and personnel to come to Uganda. We can very easily go to Vietnam or Cambodia where the need is even greater. But we feel that Uganda can become a centre of healing for Congo, Sudan and all neighboring countries."

CONCLUSION

Though the hospital facilities were poor and the working environment was inconvenient, none of medical mission team members complained. They worked tirelessly to serve many patients. As a result 1733 patients were treated and 20 patients underwent operation. Some surgical cases were not able to be handled in Lyantonde. For these patients, transfer arrangements were made for them to travel to Kampala, Mulago hospital for further investigation and treatment. Most patients who were so poor to afford their own transportation and treatment were sponsored.  Many people were so grateful for the UBF medical mission team’s sacrificial work and treatment. The Uganda UBF director Dr. Luke Lim held some consultation meetings with the Local government officials.

Through UBF medical mission work we could learn the compassionate heart of Jesus and the need for the medical mission work especially the third world. There is a lot to be done but coworkers and partners are very few. More workers, especially doctors, medical personnel, evangelists and volunteers are all needed to partner in this noble adventure.  It is our hope that the next medical outreach mission shall have a greater impact than this one through reaching lives and touching communities with the love of Jesus. May God continue to use us for his world salvation work through campus discipleship ministry and healing.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/34/672304

The Bethesda Medical Foundation Committee Meeting was held on February 2 (Saturday), 2008 at Bethesda Clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Attendants were Samuel Yoo (Uganda), Maria Yoo (Uganda), Luke Lim (Uganda), Rebekah Lim (Uganda), Sam Zun ( USA), David Park (Korea), Jin Bo Kim (Korea), and Jin Hyun Kim (Korea).

They first reviewed the by-laws. They also planned to make Bethesda Clinic a for-profit clinic. For this, they decided to build a new 4-story building from June 2008 to June 2009 in the backyard of the present clinic. They will set up sister relationship with Jeongup Hospital in Korea.
 

I praise and thank God who gave us new life through our Lord Jesus Christ and enabled us to serve the flock of sheep in our respective mission fields. I want to share what God has done recently in Uganda through a Kwangju III medical mission team. They visited Uganda with the compassionate heart and love of Jesus. The Kwangju III medical mission team was composed of 20 members, two surgeons, two dentists, one pediatrician, one clinical laboratory professor, one family doctor, two general practitioners, two pharmacists, three medical students, one nursing school student, three shepherds, one high school student, and one primary school pupil.

They practiced in Lyantonde district which has been devastated by HIV infections. Lyantonde is known as a source of HIV infections because it is located on the way to Rwanda, Brundi, and Congo. Many truck drivers are stop there and prostitution is prevalent. There are many HIV orphans who lost their parents because of AIDS. We treated 1,930 patients in Lyantonde hospital and 80 patients in the village. Among 1,930 patients 20 people had an operation performed on them and bout 200 patients received dental treatments. There are no dental clinic facilities in the hospital. The UBF medical team brought two dental treatment sets and many patients received proper dental treatments. Our two surgeons performed operations on burn scars, hernias, tumors, abscess, etc. A boy had burn scar on his one leg and he was not able to stretch his knee joint properly. After the operation he was able to stretch his leg and walk well. It was so dramatic – it was like a miracle to him. His life problem was solved by our medical team.

After our medical service the political leaders and district medical officer invited us to a small party in appreciation of our medical work in their district. Many people were grateful for our UBF medical mission team’s sacrificial work and treatment. They were so interested in UBF and they asked what UBF meant. They requested us to visit them again next year. While many people were treated in the hospital, some of the medical team members visited remote villages because the village people could not come to the hospital due to a lack of transportation. We could see how miserable their village life was. We visited a few orphans’ houses. Their parents had died of AIDS and many young children were left alone. A 13 year old girl took care of six younger brothers and sisters. The last born was 6 months old, because her mom died just last year. Their house was worse than my dog house. We contributed some money to her by buying handicrafts. They were desperately in need. We are looking for a way to help them through the local NGO, PARDI.

Through UBF medical mission work we could learn the compassionate heart of Jesus and the great need for medical mission work in mission field, especially in the third world. All medical mission team members were filled with world mission vision and Jesus’ compassionate heart for the sick, both physically and spiritually. It is my prayer that God may use our medical skills, knowledge, and talents so that we may treat the poor and the sick with Jesus’ love and heart. May God continue to use us for his world salvation work through campus discipleship ministry.