Introduction
Sometimes programmes do not go according to plan, regardless of best intentions or the significant needs that we are trying to address. After almost 2 years we have, regretfully, decided to withdraw from our partnership with the District Health Office in Pader.
Pader Health Centre:
A public-private-partnership established in October 2008 by International Medical Foundation with the Ministry of Health, Pader District Health Office and Local Government in Pader to renovate, equip and improve the running of a Health Centre III with the goal of upgrading it to a Health Centre IV.
In addition a project in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Welfare to provide treatment to Landmine survivors with support from UNDP.
Unfortunately, after many attempts to rectify operational issues, particularly issues related to district staff who were not reporting to work and not co-operating with our Medical Officer, the In-Charge, we had no option but to withdraw.
It is a shame that this is the outcome of a venture that held so much promise but it was not all for nothing. Almost 12,000 people were helped in our time there, as follows below.
Dr. Ian wrote about this outcome for his column in The Sunday Vision: click here to download a copy.
IMF Contribution:
- Staff and technical support to run the health facility. A contribution in 2010 of UGX 22m (£6,200) to cover operational costs for the clinic.
Other Partners’ Inputs
- Funds through Suubi Trust to purchase drugs and meet other costs in running the clinic; UGX 10m (£2,800) in the first half of 2010.
- In the 2008 and 2009 Suubi Trust provided funding totalling UGX 148m (£42,000). Some of these funds were used to refurbish the health centre so it could once again be used to treat patients, service the ambulance and supply solar panels, batteries and the cables for installation of an electricity supply.
- HIPS provided over UGX 16m (£4,500) to help treat those with HIV/AIDS.
- In 2010 UGX 59m (£16,800) was received from UNDP to provide treatment for the landmine survivors.
Project Outcomes and Impact:
Between January and May 2010 1,517 charity patients were registered and treated as IMF patients and 5,688 were treated as Ministry of Health patients, all made possible through our partnership and support. In the last few months of 2008 and throughout 2009 more than 3,500 patients were treated.
In April, May & June 2010, 737 landmine survivors received treatment in Pader, Gulu, Lira, Loro and Anyeke through International Medical Centres. Five patients were sent to Hope Ward – International Hospital Kampala for complex surgeries.
Patient Stories:
You can read about some of the patients that we helped during our time in Pader by clicking here.
Exchange rates as at August 1st 2010.
