KGH nurses support Ugandan hospital
Six nurses from Kettering General Hospital are travelling to Uganda to support a local hospital in an area of extreme poverty.
They are part of a 12-strong team who will be sharing their expertise and skills at the 250-bed not-for-profit Kisiizi Hospital near Rukungiri in south west Uganda from June 22- July 7.
The trip has been organised by KGH Clinical Learning Manager, Liz Power, who has visited Uganda five times working with various charities – including Mission Direct and Chilli Children.
She will be accompanied by Paediatric Sister, Charlie Nunn, A&E nurses Carol Machar and Danielle May, Paediatric Student Nurse, Sarah Macauley, and Specialist Surgical Nurse, Caroline Stupples.
Liz said: “We are privileged to work for the NHS – still one of the best healthcare providers in the world.
“Between us we have a breadth of skills and experience which we are looking forward to sharing with our Ugandan colleagues.
“Having been to Uganda five times previously I know how valuable the experience of working with colleagues who manage on very little and do an amazing job really is.
“We come home changed having received more than we give because we see real life examples of how you can save lives with very few resources – and that gives you a greater appreciation of how fortunate we are to live in Britain.
“We are planning to work in the wards and A&E and will teach the most up-to-date guidance on subjects such as post-operative surgical care, pain relief and paediatric emergency care in the school of nursing.”
The group is also delivering 360kg of aid – much of it collected through facebook nursing forums - including oxygen concentrator machines, a nebuliser, two syringe-drivers for pain relief, and a wide variety of toys, clothes, special needs equipment (eg paediatric walking frame), fob watches, stethoscopes and pen torches.
Liz said: “Visiting Uganda is always special and I very excited to be sharing it this year with my colleagues from KGH for the first time.
“I make a trip every year to Uganda so if there is anyone in the local community interested in taking part they can contact me.
“You don’t have to be a nurse – this year’s team includes engineers, artists, students and a vicar.”
Liz can be contacted at liz.power@kgh.nhs.uk
Liz would like to thank Elm Bank Nursing Home for their generous offer to transport the entire team to and from Heathrow Airport.