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

I thank God for international UBF medical mission team who came from Korea, USA and shared Jesus’ love with their medical skill and knowledge in Uganda last February. I also thank God for those who came to attend the first meeting of Bethesda Mission Hospital Board of Trustee with Jesus’ compassionate heart and love for Ugnada. Before free medical camp in Lyantonde, we held the meeting of Bethesda Mission Hospital Board of Trustee. The attendants were Dr. Samuel Zun, David Park, Samuel Yoo, Mary Yoo, Jinbo Kim, Jinhyun Kim, Luke Lim, Rebekah Lim. They discussed direction and future plan of Bethesda mission clinic. They agreed that Bethesda Mission Hospital should be self sustainable and income generating hospital so that missionaries might get self support from the hospital. We agreed to expand clinic to be hospital which will be launched seven departments (Internal medicine, Pediatrics, General surgery, Orthopedic surgery, Obstetrics &Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Dentistry). For this plan we need many co-workers not only medical professionals but also non medical professionals such as administrator, accountant, engineer and so on. In order to achieve our vision and plan we need more land in the suburbs of Kampala city so that we may build medical school and tropical institute in the future. I pray that God may bless our plan abundantly so that many Ugandans may get healed physically and spiritually through Bethesda Mission Hospital. It’s my earnest prayer that more missionaries from worldwide UBF chapters may join this ministry. May God grant enough human and material resources for Bethesda Mission Hospital project.

2. Hospital collaboration agreement
There was hospital collaboration agreement ceremony between Bethesda Mission clinic, Kampala and Jungeup Love hospital, Korea. This agreement was made for the purpose of pursing medical development and contributing improvement in medical qualities and health conditions of people in two countries through mutual cooperation. Shepherd Dr. Abraham Kwak, the medical director of Jungeup Love hospital, Dr. Luke Lim, the managing doctor of Bethesda Mission clinic, signed the agreement and exchanged it. We prayed that this collaboration might improve medical quality in Bethesda Mission clinic.

3. UBF International Medical Team Free Medical Camp
This year it was the 2nd time of UBF free medical camp in Uganda. Last year it was done by mainly Korea Kwangju III UBF coworkers. This year more people participated who were 19 from Kwangju III, 2 from Kwangju I, 1 from Jungeup love hospital, 2 from Jongro II, 1 from Kwanak III, 3 from USA, 3 from Uganda Makerere chapter. Lyantonde district is new district where was devastated by HIV infection. Lyantonde town is known as the source of HIV infection because it is located on the way to the Western part of Uganda, Rwanda, Brundi, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Many truck drivers stop over there that prostitution is prevalent. There are many HIV orphans who lost their parents because of AIDS. Though hospital facility was poor and working environment was inconvenient, none of medical mission team members complained. They worked their best in their situation in order to serve more patients. As a result 2351 patients were treated and 22 patients were undergone operation. Some surgical cases were not able to be handled in Lyantonde. We arranged to transfer them to Kampala for further investigation and treatment. Patients were so poor that they could not afford to come to Kampala. We sponsored their transport fee, treatment cost, and other cost for their stay in Kampala. Many people were so grateful for our UBF medical mission team’s sacrificial work and treatment. Local government officer and district medical officer invited UBF medical team to reception in token of their gratitude. It was served with mouth-watering barbecued goat meat and drinks

While many people were getting treatment in the Lyantonde hospital, some of medical team members visited village because village people could not come to the hospital due to lack of transport. We could see how miserable their village life was. There was no electric power, water supply, and the roads where unaccessible. They fetched water from well which was shared with the cattle. Their houses were built with mud and cow dung. The house was collapsing gradually with time and rain. We visited few orphans’ houses. Their parents died of AIDS and many young children were left. They were desperately in need of food, clothing, bedding, scholastic materials, medication and tender care. Local NGO PARDI (Participatory Action for Rural Development Initiative) is helping those AIDS orphans by supplying their needs, teaching them farming method, HIV/AIDS awareness and sensitivity training. We are looking for the ways how we can cooperate with the local NGO PARDI so that we may help those desperate HIV orphans.

Through UBF medical mission work we could learn the compassionate heart of Jesus and needs of medical mission work in mission field especially the third world. We discovered that there are a lot of works to be done in the mission field but workers are few. It is my prayer that God may send more workers to Uganda so that we may participate in the joy of harvest of God’s work. May God continue to use us for his world salvation work through campus discipleship ministry and healing ministry.

4. Helping HIV/AIDS Orphans project
Last year worldwide UBF chapters offered Christmas offering for HIV/AIDS orphans in Uganda. I thank God for worldwide precious coworkers’ prayer and offering for Uganda. We have investigated so far how to use this precious offering the most effectively. Bethesda clinic had served the children of Mulago FOCUS (Fellowship of Christian Unions) Children Project. These children are HIV orphans or vulnerable children who stay in slum area of Mulago. We have given them free treatment in Bethesda Mission Clinic. Our leaders and missionaries in Uganda are going to discuss how to help them. We also served the area of Lyantonde district with UBF Free Medical Camp. We have known some local NGO which helps AIDS orphans in many ways. We are going to decide how to help them in effective way. May God give us wisdom so that we may help HIV/AIDS orphans practically and effectively.

5. Launching Optical service in Bethesda clinic
Last September, we purchased automated machine for making eye glasses from Korea. Korean NGO VCS (Vision Care Service) arranged purchase of machine and training. Msn. Rebekah learned how to make eye glasses from one technician who came to Uganda to install machine and to teach her. Msn. Rebekah now can make all kinds of glasses without any help from outside. We still need more lenses and glass accessories so that optical service may be fully equipped and we may generate income for self-supporting. May God bless our new business so that we may provide good quality spectacles to Ugnadan people with affordable price and generate income for self-support.

6. Launching endoscopic service by Dr. Samuel Yoo
Since Msn. Samuel Yoo ended his contract with KOICA, he became free that he could work in Bethesda clinic as consultant. He began Esophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy then he introduced bronchoscopy in Bethesda clinic. He was the first doctor who introduced bronchoscopy to Uganda. He used to do it in Mulago hospital. The endoscopy in Mulago hospital is out of order now that Bethesda clinic becomes only place where brochoscopy can be done in Uganda. We pray for getting more endoscopic machine and endoscopic room next year so that we may provide quality diagnostic service to Ugandans.

When I look back last year, I find that I did not prepare Bible study and Sunday message wholeheartedly. I participated in many outreach program and mission hospital project. After I returned from village, I felt very tired and could not prepare message deeply. I feel very sorry for my responsibility of handling God’s word. May you forgive my laziness and negligence of my duty as your servant. In new year 2009 I hold the word of God, Ezra 7:10. It says, "For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel." This year I decide to devote myself to study, to observe and to teach the word of God more diligently. I pray that I may study Bible deeply so that I may provide very nutritious spiritual food to our coworkers and flock of sheep. I pray that I may handle God’s word correctly by studying and observing and teaching it wholeheartedly. Please help me to put what I teach into practice so that I myself may not be disqualified after my teaching. May you grant me the Holy Spirit and wisdom so that I may discern this world and prepare sharp touching message every Sunday. It’s my prayer that I may meditate God’s word day and night and read the whole Bible once from the cover to cover this year.

As I sought to understand the God of Uganda, I found myself thinking a lot about the God of Genesis. The slower paced environment in Africa seemed to point back to a simpler way of living; people eat whole foods from their own gardens and locals hang around outside socializing, face to face conversations still being the main mode of communication. I felt that the lack of distractions made it easier to see the stark contrast between the beauty of God’s creation and the curse of Adam’s sin. When I witnessed the sacrificial lives of the missionaries and the shepherd hearts of the native leaders I thought about the God who proclaimed that it was good. I can’t forget some of the personal stories and testimonies they shared about their journeys of faith; they reminded me that man was created in the image of God, equipped with an amazing capacity to love. At the same time the curse of sin was sobering. I was reminded of it each time the buzz of a mosquito struck fear in my heart. We spent time in Dr. Luke Lim’s clinic and visited a few local hospitals and orphanages. The sicknesses and poverty we encountered were heart-wrenching and even revolting at times. In addition, Ugandan brothers and sisters were very frank about the less obvious spiritual sicknesses that afflicted many young people. For example, despite the fact that Uganda is predominantly Christian, the pursuit of false idols cause many to attend church merely as a vehicle for their own personal gain. In this way, Bible teachers there are often burned and taken advantage of by self-seeking students. It is a difficult labor of love.

At times I felt burdened by the reality of mission, and I was thankful to receive new hope from the God of Genesis through the study of the call of Abram. The Makerere University chapter was beginning the study of the life of Abraham, and through our study I feel so blessed to understand more deeply our gracious God who calls things that are not as though they were. Surely, Abraham’s human reality was that he was an ordinary man full of weaknesses, born into an idol worshiping family, getting old, and married to a barren woman to boot. However, God challenged Abraham to claim a new reality by faith. In a fallen world, the God of Abraham sees life where there is death, hope where there is fatalism, and a new creation in the midst of the old sinful one; God’s reality reflects the victory of Christ.

I was so moved by the God who called an ordinary man to be blessed with unbelievable promises, and I was inspired by an ordinary man who claimed those unbelievable promises by faith and obedience. This forced me to think about my own doubt and human thinking, especially in regards to the responsibilities of being passed the torch of the ministry as a second gen. Having been raised in the church, I have had plenty of time to develop idealistic views about what it means to live a life of faith. Accordingly, I have also had enough time to watch each ideal become jaded by the human experience. I wondered how it was possible to become unjaded and to think like a child again when it’s impossible to unlearn the reality of the world and the reality of my own weaknesses. This has been a recurring source of frustration, and sometimes I wondered whether spiritual hopes were fairytales, no different than human dreams. But through the faith of Abraham, I was deeply convicted of my sin of allowing my faith be dictated by human reality rather than the reality of Christ. I can see clearly that faith in Christ can never be jaded by this world because Christ has overcome the reality of this world. I pray for the simple and transcendent faith of Abraham, so that I may believe that no matter how many promises God has made, they are all "Yes" in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God that He also sees me as worthy of bearing His reality in Jesus. I thank Him for calling me to be his own child, to lead a life of love, faith, and obedience. I pray that God may fix my heart in His kingdom, beyond the realm of this world. May God enable me to become a powerful mother of prayer who has a shepherd heart after Jesus so that I can be an effective Bible teacher for world mission.

ONE WORD: May the eyes of my heart be enlightened to see Jesus

Dr. Kim studied complications associated with diabetes. She proposed a new prescription, ‘KIOM-79,’ and its derivatives. She published more than 70 articles, registered several patents, and discovered excellent effects of herbal medication.

Dr. Kim presented her research paper about diabetic retinopathy effects of ‘KIOM-79′ at the American diabetic association conference and the European diabetic association conference this year.

On September 2008, she presented her research paper entitled, "KIOM-79 long term treatment inhibits the development of diabetic retinopathy and AGEs accumulation in retinal tissue" in Rome at the European diabetic association conference.

Earlier this year, she was chosen to be one of the top "2000 outstanding scientists in 2008-2009" and one of the "great minds of the 21st century" by ABI (American Biographical Institute).

She was named "Who’s who" in the science and engineering departments at MarQuis. She was also listed in the three most famous name list dictionaries and received the ‘Triple Crown’ honor.

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.