In the World With COVID-19: What Africa Can Teach the World About Scarcity, Tragedy, and Uncertainty During the Pandemic: Part II

Written by Robert Kalyesubula, MD, nephrologist and founder of the African Community Center for Social Sustainability (ACCESS), Uganda

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As mortal beings, we must accept that death is an integral part of life. We simply do not have control over everything. As good clinicians, it is important to pour our hearts into every action we undertake and do what we can for our patients despite not knowing the outcome. Offering our best and knowing we did all we could in a given moment can be an invaluable source of reassurance.

In the World With COVID-19: What Africa Can Teach the World About Scarcity, Tragedy, and Uncertainty During the Pandemic: Part I

Written by Robert Kalyesubula, MD, Nephrologist and Founder of the African Community Center for Social Sustainability, Nakaseke, Uganda

In the World With COVID-19: Uganda

Written by Reverend Samuel Luboga, co-founder of the Global Health Program Homestay Model in Uganda

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I am sad to say that our worst fears have come to pass. As of today, April 6, Uganda has 52 confirmed cases of COVID-19 out of approximately 400 tests. It started with a Ugandan returning from Italy via Dubai. In response, the government and religious leaders have embarked on an intense COVID-19 awareness campaign.

An Excellent Learning Day

Written by Ahja Steele, Ross University School of Medicine Class of 2020

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Today was an excellent learning day. We went to the hospital with the immunization clinic as the agenda and heard an amazing lecture by Sister Florence who knows immunizations like the back of her hand. I am glad she went into detail, as my undergraduate medical education program did not cover many specifics about immunizations She gave us a pamphlet detailing the weeks at which a baby should receive vaccines based on Uganda’s standards. From there, we immunized several babies.

We Are In This Together

Written by Irene Sue, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Class of 2022

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She lies there in a corner of a ward reserved for adult female patients, clad in a beautiful red embroidered cloth, the fabric rising and falling, following the uneven rhythm of her labored breathing. Her concerned daughter looms closely nearby, next to the oxygen tank which has not seemed to help, anxiously awaiting Dr. Lenard Okello's instructions as he begins presenting the patient.

No Such Thing As Equal Opportunity

Written by Kaysha Ribao, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Class of 2020

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The red dust is everywhere: on skin and clothes, in the car and the air. Despite the rain last night, today was particularly dusty as we partook in another Family Planning Outreach event. Although we started in late afternoon instead of our regular morning start time, I began to understand why.

Did You Know That You Had It In You?

Written by Jamidah Nakato, PhD, Assistant Lecturer at Makerere University

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When I was growing up, those around me would often ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question sounded strange in the context of a country characterized by limited resources and a high mortality rate. Many of Uganda’s citizens believe in living in the moment and letting tomorrow take care of itself, as they understand the many risks out there and the reality that one can die at any time. Having a vision feels futile.

Sense of Community: What Uganda Gave Me

Written by Grace Herrick, Founder of Grace's Promise Incorporated

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My dad is from California and my mom is Portuguese born in Mozambique. My mom’s stories always piqued my curiosity about the continent of Africa, a curiosity that continued to grow through high school as I frequently attended the WCHN global health evening sessions. In the summer of 2015, I had the opportunity to go to Uganda for two weeks during which I shadowed doctors and nurses, visited an orphanage, and went to ACCESS in Nakaseke where I learned about the activities of this amazing organization and community.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights: Part III

Written by Florence DiBiase, UVMLCOM Class of 2019

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She argued instead for prevention through education of all women and access to effective contraception for anyone who becomes sexually active. She stressed keeping girls in school as a fundamental way to decrease the high birth rate, unintended pregnancy, and maternal mortality. This is a more realistic and achievable goal, she argued, given that even access to contraception and sexual education are contentious due to religious and cultural beliefs.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights: Part II

Written by Florence DiBiase '19

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I have now been at Kawempe General Hospital for three weeks. I initially carefully avoided the subject of reproductive justice altogether, determined to wait to ask questions until I gained a better sense of cultural attitudes. From the Ugandans I have met thus far - primarily the Okullo family and surrounding medical students on their Ob/Gyn rotation - religion is a vital component of life here.