I'm working with an organization called ACHERU (acheru.org) in Uganda while I'm here for the semester. Here is a little information about the organization and my time there already.
This organization works with
disabled children here in Uganda providing health care. They work primarily with
patients who have osteomyelitis, CP, rickets, PIP (post injection paralysis from
quinine shots that hit the sciatic nerve and cause loss of function in dorsal
flexion or pulling your toes up. Over time the foot turns and the patient starts walking on the dorsal, or front,
side of foot. The care is to cast the foot over time to place the foot back into
correct positioning and then surgery on Achilles to lengthen.) They also provide
wound care for osteomyelitis while waiting and after surgery. And also provide care to many other conditions. In addition to the medical side of ACHERU, they provide schooling, housing, food, and community to the patients and caregivers there. ACHERU is unique because they only charge about $20 dollars as an initial fee for the complete care, which often ranges from weeks to months. The reason why they charge the initial fee isn't to raise money because costs for procedures and care cost more per visit than the initial fee covers, but instead it allows the patient's family a sense of ownership and responsibility. To put it in perspective, a child with CP often would be charged $50 per visit, and usually requires daily care.
So, I will be going to ACHERU
for about 70-80 hours throughout the semester and will be both observing and
helping. My first day I got to help make a plaster cast for two of the PIP
patients, (a 10 and 13 year old boy). I've gotten to observe and feel a boy's
leg with CP and help dress wounds. (Although I did get a little nauseous once
haha).
In addition to the clinic, they
do a lot of CBR, community based rehabilitation, trying to change the perception
about doctors and clinics, which usually charge incredible fees and often can
end up with worse results, and spend a lot of time correcting issues that could
have been largely preventable. They get to save a lot of children from unneeded
amputation and give life to kids with CP who before, were regarded as cursed and
useless.
BTW: Fact of the day: I ate a chicken gizzard for both breakfast and lunch one day.
***Pictures below!****
No comments:
Post a Comment