• 5,592 people were counselled and tested for HIV
• 1,644 were enrolled on our treatment programmes for those living with HIV
• 19 patients received treatment each month for Cancer
• 9 received open heart surgery
• 244 were admitted onto Hope Ward for surgery and complex clinical care
• 89 received physiotherapy
• 225 were tested for TB
• 63 received treatment for TB
• 5,688 local people received out-patient care in Pader
• 3,045 had out-patient care in Lira
• 28,818 attended preventative care presentations.

All of the above received care and treatment free of charge thanks to the generous on-going support of our sponsors.

Lucy, Amy, Tom (volunteers from the UK) and members of our clinical team from Lira spent a few weeks on this pilot in Pader District to help determine how we might be able to operate Mobile Clinics in parts of the country that lack basic health facilities.

The pilot was a success but we’ve failed, so far, to interest other sponsors to help fund such an operation.

Ayo Paska, 28 years old from Paipii village in Lunaa Parish Pader TC, came following a radio announcement in early June 2010 which, her brother in-law shared.

She had a foreign body (FB) in situ and required urgent medical attention as she was pregnant with continued pain from the FB in her.

She was referred for x-ray to determine the position of the bullet at Kalongo Hospital, as Pader HC III still lacks this essential service. She was x-rayed and the bullet removed surgically. Thanks to the good co-ordination and health care provision at both these facilities.

Ouma Moses came to Pader HC III on 3^rd May 2010 with a septic gun shot wound. He is a former LRA abductee and had stayed almost a year captive. He escaped but was attacked and suffered with bomb splinters on parts of his body. He had been receiving treatment, however the wound never healed.

Thanks to the on going Landmine programme, he was reviewed and referred by the SMO Pader HC III for better management at Matany Hospital, where he received full treatment and shrapnel in his rib removed.

Lucy Toobalo a 47 year old mother of five and a primary school teacher from Lamiyo village in Pader district. She was referred to Pader HC III by a CDO following the start of the project on 13^th April 2010. Lucy was travelling from Pader to Gulu when the vehicle she was travelling in hit a landmine at the area of Acoli-buu in 2007.

She came with complaints of discomfort and wounds on her amputated leg causing extended pain.

She said as a teacher, she at times has to stand to explain things better on the board to her pupils most likely causing the wounds. Also, the texture of her prosthesis made her sweat inside at times making it difficult to walk. Clearly Lucy unconditionally loved her profession and her biggest joy was the children/pupils at her school.

On review by Dr. Hillary she was diagnosed with post traumatic pain and recommended to get a new prosthesis, Pader HC III does not have the necessary facility hence she was referred to Buluba Hospital in Jinja.

Lucy is unique in that despite her disability she is always jolly and talks of her career development jokingly she comments that:

“disability is not in ability”.

On her return from Buluba just barely two weeks after Dr. Hillary referred her, she called Stella, the clinic administrator just to inform us with laughter’s saying;

“I am back and on my best foot.”

In my heart there was nothing greater that can bring joy to receive such a feed back. The landmine programme has reached many yet a big number remain out there unidentified and still need treatment.

Rose Lagulu & Oryema Titus are both landmine survivors with amputation of legs and already had prosthesis but complained of developing wounds and pain at the ankle where the surgery had been done. After consultation and evaluation at Pader HC III, both were referred to Buluba for further treatment. Dr. Ziwa our contact at Buluba reported of them getting their new prosthesis with no complaints so far.

We are continually being called to inquire if this programme is still ongoing making it clear that the service is very much needed, appreciated and still many have not been reached.

The turnout at the outreach held on 17^th & 18^th June 2010 in Anyeke and Loro in Oyam district was overwhelming with many being referred to Charis-IMC Lira for further treatment and other more serious cases referred to IHK.

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.

Santino’s parents poured water on his hand to cool it down and rushed him to the Health Centre. At the health centre they were told to find some money and take him to a referral hospital for further management. Unfortunately they did not have any money to go to hospital so they resorted to herbal medicine for his treatment.

The young boys hand healed with severe contractures leaving it permanently clenched in a fist.

One day Santino’s father met one of the IMC staff who referred him to Hope Ward. Santino’s father had never been to Kampala and could not speak or understand common languages spoken in the ‘big city’. The IMC staff in Pader put him on a bus with written directions in hope that they would find a boda rider who could transport them from the bus stage to the hospital. Staff at Hope Ward and IMC Pader breathed a big sigh of relief when he finally arrived. They took a big risk just to find some help for the young boy.

Santino was admitted on Hope Ward to begin a series of surgeries that will release his fingers so he can use his hand again. His father said that he is now hopeful that his son will be fine again, especially because he has seen children with very complex conditions being assisted on the ward.

Patient benefits: to narrate a brief story of a 8 year from Olwir-Nguu village, Acoro parish roughly 5km from Pader HC was brought in by her mother, so weak and pale and could barely sit-up.

She was diagnosed with severe anaemia and needed immediately to be transfused. As the Health Unit (HU) does not have a blood bank she had to be referred to Kalongo Hospital 40km away.

Her mother pleaded with Dr. Hillary saying the child had always been ill and she had no money for the transport considering she is the sole bread earner, her husband is a blindman. Where can she get the money to take this child to receive such care?  IMF (funded by Suubi Trust) was able to provide the money for ambulance fuel to take her to hospital for necessary treatment.

Susan through IMF is clearly a beneficiary, thank you for saving life!

Stella Acayo, Administrator Pader

Suubi Trust is working with International Medical Foundation, a Ugandan NGO, to fund their work at a health clinic in Pader, one of the areas ravished by the LRA. This clinic is being managed in partnership with the Ministry of Health.

The clinic is managed by senior staff from IMF including a doctor, a nurse and a lab technician. These IMF staff help to support the District staff, enhancing their capabilities, expanding their clinical knowledge and skills, and building on quality systems so that they in turn can run the facility more efficiently in the future.

Whilst providing and helping to improve the general healthcare services for the local population, the IMF staff at this clinic also provide primary healthcare free of charge to those that cannot afford to pay. Costs for these treatments are met from the funds raised in the UK by Suubi Trust and its supporters.

2,396 charity patients have been treated since October 2008.

Typical health issues treated include Respiratory Tract Infection, Malaria, Urinary Tract Infection, Fungal Infection and Gastroenteritis.

You can read more about this on our website by clicking here

or click on this image to download the August Update report