Providing Bednets to 200,000 Ugandans (#1732)
Location: Kisiizi, Uganda
While discussing the bed net project with the director of the Kisiizi hospital, Dr. Tonny, he explained that “it is simple things like mosquito nets that you can’t find money for.” With support from GlobalGiving, that money has been found, and it is making a substantial difference. Founded in 1958, the Kisiizi Hospital lacked bed nets, despite the high prevalence of malaria, up until three years ago.
Since then, treated nets have been hung in numerous hospital wards and distributed to every member of hospital wards and distributed to every member of hospital staff as well as the hospital’s medical students. Prior to distribution of these nets, as many as eight medical students at a time would be hospitalized for malaria, causing them to miss valuable learning time. According to Allen, the warden of the female dorms, malaria prevalence has been greatly reduced. Similarly, as Dr. Tonny explained, fewer hospital staff have been sick from malaria. For the chronically short-staffed Kisiizi Hospital, it is important to have a healthy staff in order to serve the community. Last, but not least, by nature of being in a hospital, many of the patients are already ill. A bout of malarial can. At worst, cause fatal complications, and, at best, can make the road to recovery more difficult. Immaculate, a nurse in the medical ward, explained that most patients given bed nets use them. The hospital is committed to encouraging the patients to use the nets. To find ways to increase patient use, the hospital recently commissioned a study about the bed nets.
Today we had an opportunity to talk to a whole class of medical students. They told us that although they appreciated the bed nets they received, the new students lack bed nets due to a shortage. Additionally, as we toured the hospital, we found that several wards (mental health, rehab, and surgery) still lack nets. Finally, the hospital hopes to eventually expand its impact by supplying nets to the households of staff. A recent shipment of nets, supported by GlobalGiving, will help meet this need, but continued funding will be crucial to provide enough life saving nets.
To learn more, or to support this project, visit globalgiving.com/1732
2 years ago