“A highlight of my recent trip to Uganda was the opportunity to travel to Lira and meet the team at the clinic there.

Situated 6 hours drive north of Kampala, Lira was severely affected by the activities of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Thousands of people fled their homes in the countryside and took refuge in the town.

Aid agencies established emergency camps on the edge of town, on school playing fields, or anywhere where there was space. Schools struggled to function, and local medical facilities were overwhelmed. The situation was further complicated by the number of children who had lost one or both of their parents, and by the spread of HIV/AIDS. It is only in the last two or three years, with the retreat of the LRA, that the camps have been disbanded and displaced people have begun to return to their home villages.

With the support of the Suubi Trust the Lira clinic is able to treat up to 200 charity patients a month. Each charity treatment is subsidised, with the patient paying only 2,000 shillings (less than £1). Each month health education worker Ambrose Ogwang distributes charity referral forms to a number of schools, churches and other community groups. These groups then select individuals, often children, who are in need of medical treatment but unable to afford the standard fees.

Ambrose took us on a tour of Lira and introduced us to some of the groups who participate in the referral system. Over the course of the day we met head teachers, deputy heads, pastors, church workers, and representatives of community organisations, all of whom expressed their thanks for the support of Suubi Trust. We were also able to meet some people who had benefitted directly from treatment at the clinic.

Arriving at Lira Primary School during morning break we were given an enthusiastic welcome by hundreds of excited children! Deputy head teacher Mr Yapi Sam Bob explained that many pupils at the school come from very poor families, but with access to medical care, enrolment and attendance at the school have improved.

While at the school we were delighted to meet Zulaika, who had been referred to the clinic some time ago. She was found to have a heart condition, but is now receiving the drugs she needs and is back at school. Her family came to Lira during the insurgency, and have chosen to remain there for the moment, so that Zulaika will have access both to education and to the medical care she needs.

Mr Yapi Sam Bob especially asked us to pass on his greetings and thanks to St Peter’s School in Canterbury, who have raised money to help pupils at the school receive treatment at the clinic.

At the New Covenant Christian Centre we were introduced to Margaret, an older lady who had suffered for some time with stomach problems. She had gone to a local clinic and been told that she would need tests and medicines, neither of which she could afford.

The church referred her to the IMCC clinic, where she was treated successfully. Now that she can cook and look after herself again her son has been able to return to college and resume his studies to be a health worker.

Later in the day we visited St Phillip’s Catholic Church and Nursery School.

Once again we received a very warm welcome, with the children forming an impromptu choir to sing to us!

The boy in the blue tee shirt is just one of those from St Phillips treated at the clinic and now back at school.

Our final visit of the day was to the Concerned Parents Association (CPA), founded in 1996 when the LRA abducted 139 girls from St Mary’s College, Aboke. It was only earlier this year that the last of the girls finally returned. The CPA now offers support to formerly abducted children, provides vocational training for orphans and vulnerable young people, and offers training in conflict resolution.

Just before Easter they erected a memorial to the victims of the LRA insurgency on one of the main roundabouts in Lira.

At the end of our brief, but busy, visit to Lira it was obvious that there is a huge need for health education and subsidised medical care amongst the poorest of Lira’s community. Ambrose and the rest of the IMCC team are making a valuable contribution towards meeting that need, and very much appreciate the funding and support they receive from UK.”

We posted a recent update here…

We were very pleased to receive the following letter from Yapi Bob, Deputy Head Master.

Dear Sir / Madam,

REF: APPRECIATION

Permit me on behalf of the parents , pupils , teachers and on my own to congratulate you  upon the support you have been rendering to pay all the bills for the treatments of our pupils at INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CLINIC- LIRA . We are very appreciative for the good spirit you have shown. It came at the right time when most of the people were recovering from the trauma of leaving INTERNALY DISPLACED PEOPLE CAMP which were full of all categories of problems such hunger, poor sanitation, diseases etc

The support you have so far given for now one year has caused remarkable changes in the attendance, performance, health and discipline of the school let alone the increment in enrolment in all streams. e.g. Last year our enrolment was 1,784 pupils but this year after the  Annual General Meeting in December last year where we informed the parents about the free treatment, the enrolment rose up to 2,122 pupils. Surprisingly the number of girls is more than boys. We also hope to get good results in the recently completed PRIMARY LEAVING EXAMINATIONS.

More remarkably, the rate of school dropouts has fallen to almost below 10 % compared to other years which went beyond 20 % .

FUTURE PLAN
Other things being equal, we are suggesting that our pupils and teachers should link up with your pupils and teachers in form  of writing  letters among themselves to share their experiences and school lives as a way of expanding their knowledge world wide for their future consumptions. Unfortunately it is only the writer who has some knowledge about INTRNET and computers otherwise we would use internet only but  with time we hope we  shall also train our pupils and teachers with computer knowledge should any sympathizer donate some used  computers for the school.

Lastly, I beg for forgiveness for writing such a long e-mail  – at least to compensate for the long time that  we have not been communicating. MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU, AMEN.

Yapi Bob
Deputy Head Teacher

Most of the patients seen had malaria. It is becoming evident that a malaria prevention initiative would greatly benefit the people of Lira as it is affecting so many people yet it is a preventable disease.

You can read more about some of these patients here.

These gifts come in the same week as we received the following update about the work in Lira…

There is a very high incidence of Malaria and Typhoid in this district. Both of these infectious diseases thrive in areas where people live in crowded conditions, and the incidence of both can be reduced by simple education and sleeping under mosquito nets.

These diseases have a major impact on children, not only in terms of mortality, but also adversely affecting their development by causing them to miss school.
There have been 20 Charity patients recently treated for these conditions at the Lira clinic from the primary school alone, where the boarders are especially vulnerable.

Several children and their teachers wanted to share their stories:

Bob Yapi, Teacher in Charge of the school said

“The clinic has reduced the drop out rate and absenteeism at the school and I would like to thank all the sponsors.”

Emmanuel Okello, age 7, Primary 1:

He used to end up being admitted to Hospital and put on a drip but since he has been receiving help at the Lira Charity Clinic he hasn’t had any admissions.  He now takes the correct medication and sleeps under a net.  Emmanuel is poor and unable to afford correct medication; subsidised drugs from the charity clinic means he can get good medication, avoid admission for an iv drip – which means no absence from school.

Sarah Akoko age 12, Primary 7:

Used to get Malaria and Typhoid regularly but since coming to the Lira charity clinic for treatment, 3 months ago , she has had been healthy.

Lira pupils helped by funds raised at St. Peter's Methodist Primary School

Rita Ayugi age 10, Primary 5:

Has been suffering from regular bouts of Malaria. Since attending the Lira clinic she has had no further episodes and is much more active and alert in class and now takes part in extra- curricular activities.

Anna Adul, her teacher says

“I, and the school at large, have appreciated the effort you, the sponsors, have made in the school and hope you can continue with that spirit of good health for the children.

One of the nurses went to the school to talk about Malaria and Typhoid and to sensitise and educate the children and teachers on how to avoid these common diseases. Since the start of the clinic there has been a reduction in the incidence of these diseases in the school.”

Rita and her teacher Anna

Of these patients, 73 were five years or under (27%) and 47 between 6-15 years old (17%).

Malaria and related conditions are by far the most prevalent with 118 patients (43%) being treated.

230 (84%) of our patients were referred from 9 sources as follows:

1. Victory Outreach Church 38
2. Lira Primary School 35
3. St. Philips Church 31
4. Lira Main Mosque 27
5. St. John Bosco Church 25
6. Lira Cathedral 23
7. Montensori Nursery 20
8. Dokolo Chapel 17
9. Christian Renewal Church 14

A big thank you to the staff at the clinic including; Sophie, Ambrose, Kenneth, Mosesand Samuel. You can read more about them here…

It costs us just £7.50 to provide care to our patients and the clinic has a monthly capacity to provide such treatment for about 200 patients. In 2008 we need to raise £18,000 which will treat 2,400 patients. So far we have raised more than £11,000 from the following sponsors:

• Aspect Capital
• Port-P
• Wesleyan Assurance
• St. Peter’s Methodist Primary School
• Kuvuka

Of course that means that we are still seeking sponsorship to meet the remaining £7,000, which we will need before the end of this summer.

You can help by letting others know about us and by giving whatever you can; there are a number of different ways in which you can make a donation, including doing so online, just click here for more information…

Remember just £7.50 can provide life changing treatment…

Please Help

• We received £356 from individual supporters.
• Dr Richard Bogle and Dr Houman Ashrafian of Cardiac Report Limited gave £3,000 to buy new Ultrasound equipment.
• SonoSite gave £13,300 in the form of discount for the supply of the new MicroMaxx Ultrasound equipment.
• St Peter’s Methodist School in Cantebury gave £255.49 to support treatments given to pupils at the Lira Primary School.

Read more about previous Giving here…

The children and staff at St. Peter’s have generously donated

£255.49

This money will be used to provide health-care to more than 30 pupils at the Lira Primary School.

You can read more about this work here…