Cheers to the Weekend!

Post by Prosperity Eneh, PharmD, MS

It’s hard to believe that I have been in Uganda for 2 weeks! Time has moved very fast with all the activities we have been engaged in. As this is my second time around in Uganda, I was happy to reconnect with some friends I made last year and also some of the health care providers I worked with as well. 

Working with the 4th year students on their clinical and research activities over the past 2 weeks has been very rewarding. Some of our plans have been modified as far as clinical activities but overall we have been plugged into the four main areas already discussed in previous blogs; Kirrudu National Hospital, Infectious Disease Institute, Neurosurgery ward at Mulago National Hospital and Nakasero Hospital. It has been educational and humbling to debrief after each clinical day and discuss the patients and cases that were most interesting, keeping in mind specific cultural context in making comparisons to US practices.

View of Lake Kyaninga from Craker lake home

This weekend we are taking it easy with fun plans. I made a trip to Fort Portal which is about 5 hours away from the capital city. I travelled with a few of the other Minnesota housemates. We stayed at a place called the Crater Lake home with amazing views of Lake Kyaninga. The home we stayed at is owned by a physician that lives in London currently but worked in Uganda for over 20 years. We booked the lake home using Airbnb and this is not so uncommon for expats to have homes in remote regions of Uganda and then put in up for rent when they are not in town. We had a lovely stay!  

Speke Resort

An, Melanie and Joe stayed in Kampala over the weekend to visit a resort center where they can work on their research projects if needed or engage in other fun activities like swimming! As this is our last weekend here, a trip to the craft market to purchase gifts for family and friends is also needed. 

As we wrap up the upcoming week, the students will be presenting on the literature review they conducted as part of the research project that they have been working on since they got here. As this elective APPE has a major research component to it, we have made a conscious effort to ensure there is adequate time allocated to both clinical activities and research activities. Each of the student already did a patient case presentation with a topic discussion and this week they will each present on the outcomes of their literature review. A specific aims document that describes a plan for conducting adequate research on the selected topic is also requested for each project. 

Personally, being a part of this rotation the first time and now for a second time has been such an amazing experience. I am so grateful for the opportunity and I hope that wherever my career takes me in the future, I will be able to start or continue a program like this. When I visit the wards and I see some of the providers I worked with in the past year and they recognize me and welcome me again this year, it makes me happy to know that a longer lasting relationship is being formed. Many of the Ugandan providers have been eager to teach and dialogue with us and this encourages an environment where there is mutual benefits to these trips we make. 

We are still staying cautious with the recent news of Ebola cases confirmed in Uganda. Activities in Kampala are going on as usual but in the area where the cases were confirmed, all the organizations involved are keeping watch and doing what is needed to contain the situation. I am also hoping to shed more light on the crisis in Congo which shares a border with Uganda. Per the last meeting of the WHO on Friday, it is still not considered a global emergency, however much is still needed to curb the spread of the virus. 

Again, it is hard to believe we have only 3 full days left in Uganda. In the upcoming blog posts by Melanie, An and Joe, they will be reflecting on their time here. Be on the look out for their wrap up posts!

Mweraba! (Goodbye in Luganda)