All of the funds raised through Suubi Trust are used to support the work of International Medical Foundation, IMF, in Uganda.
IMF is currently engaged in at least a dozen community based healthcare programmes across Uganda. Only a few of these are fully funded by grants, most rely upon financial support from corporates and individuals.
Suubi Trust helps to support a number of these as follows:
This medical and surgical ward at International Hospital Kampala, IHK, is dedicated to the provision of hospital care and treatment free of charge for those who otherwise could not afford it. IHK, as part of its corporate social responsibility, is the prime sponsor providing staff, management support and facilities free of charge and helping to meet the cost of some treatments. A number of local corporate organisations are also active sponsors, including e.g. Hwan Sung which has recently offered support for a number of heart surgeries to be performed in the next few months.
Suubi Trust continues its support for the Hope Physiotherapy Service and Hope Ward Cancer Care which requires a monthly budget of about £2,000.
Pader, in the north of Uganda, is a region devastated by 20 years of war and unrest. In the last couple of years peace has started to emerge and those people that had been displaced are beginning to return to their home villages. IMF is working in partnership with the Ministry of Health, MoH, to help manage and improve the local health centre. Last year Suubi Trust provided funds to renovate this facility and now continues to support services by e.g. meeting staff costs for the Medical Superintendant and some of his senior team. This IMF team manages and works alongside other staff who are provided and employed by the MoH. In 2010 we are hoping to extend the services offered to include much needed blood transfusion, ante-natal, maternity and some minor surgery. This would move the facility towards being a Health Centre IV, what we in the UK used to call a Cottage Hospital. We will need to raise at least £30,000 this year.
This private clinic was established initially to provide care and treatment for those living in and around Lira, also in the north, who are either members of healthcare schemes, have health insurance or can afford to pay cash for treatments received. Since 2008 Suubi Trust has provided funds to meet the cost of primary healthcare for the poor and needy who cannot afford it. Headmasters and church leaders are asked to select their most needy children and parents who are given a voucher which, when presented at the clinic, entitles them to care just as if they were members of a private healthcare scheme. Treatment costs are heavily subsidised by the private clinic, essentially being just the marginal cost of drugs and consumables, which means that each charity patient can be treated for as little as £7.50. The clinic is able to provide care to 250 charity patients each month, so funding needed is about £1,800 per month.
This new venture for 2010 is a collaboration between those living in and around Bwindi, in SW Uganda, the Bwindi Community Hospital and IMF. The aim is to establish an affordable community healthcare scheme that enables people to pay for healthcare collectively and in advance, instead of waiting until they become sick and fearing the cost of care. It helps protect the poor and enables them to have some control over their healthcare. IMF will administer the scheme working closely with the leaders of local community groups, referred to as a Bataka. A set of 25 quality measures have been agreed and IMF will audit services provided by BCH against these. A monthly capitation fee will be paid by IMF to BCH dependent upon it meeting set targets within this quality framework.
We are hoping to enrol at least 30,000 people onto this scheme and each will contribute UGX 6,000 (£2). The cost of providing care is estimated at UGX 12,000 (£4) per member; costs at BCH are subsidised by the Church of Uganda and other sources of funding such as Marie Stopes International, Elton John AIDS Foundation and The Eurochange Charity.
IMF and Bwindi Community Hospital have agreed to work together to raise funds and new sponsorship to meet the initial gap in funding with the hope that in years to come the scheme will become self-sustaining. In 2010 we will need to raise £60,000.
As I write this column I am sorrowful, because I have lost a good friend and a good man. Moses Munezero was killed in the night bus ambush which happened on the Mbarara- Kabale road this week.
