First Safari!

I was fortunate enough to be able to take my first safari while here in Uganda to Queen Elizabeth National Park, located in the southwest corner of the country, near the border with the DRC.  Home to four of the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses, and buffalo), QENP was a great experience, and we were fortunate enough to see lions, elephants, hippos, and buffalo, along with plenty of Ugandan Kob, tons of birdlife, chimpanzees, and baboons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite singing the Buffalo Bills fight song, the water buffalo remain unimpressed.

Waking up before sunrise, we piled into an old safari van, popped the roof, and hit the road looking for wildlife. Although I never had really considered going on a safari before, the first time we saw a herd of elephants line up to drink from the Kazinga Channel, I couldn't help but feel awed by the majesty of these animals. I was able to take a boat ride along the channel, which allowed for some great vantage points to see tons of wildlife take advantage of the cooling lake from the hot Ugandan sun.

 

We also got to see some coffee growing in action, and I met some local children who not only showed me when coffee is ready to be picked, but also loved to have their photos taken. No matter where in the world they are, it seems that all children love to have their pictures taken and then see them - as someone who hates having their picture taken, I was more than happy to oblige them!

Paul (in the striped shirt) showing off a ripe coffee bean.

 Overall, it was a wonderful trip, and I feel so lucky that I was able to take my first safari this summer - it certainly made some great memories and even better photos!

Straight out of the Lion King!

Until next time!

Amey

Reflections from Rural Uganda

Hi again-

I've officially completed the travel installment of my internship, having gone to rural towns in districts in Southwest Uganda, close to the Tanzania border. Despite the potholes, it sure beats 9-5 in an office!

Just another day in the office

We spent time interviewing private drug shops and clinics, along with getting to tour government health centers. On paper, public health centers in Uganda are free of charge to citizens and are tiered according to the services they offer, with National Referral Hospitals like Mulago in Kampala offering the most specialized care, and Health Center Is essentially a village volunteer in rural districts whose job consists of home visits for low-level health scares and education.  I didn't want to take pictures in the hospitals we visited for fear of offending patients and staff, but at the risk of sounding cliche, they were incredibly eye-opening. One hospital we visited cuts the electricity at night (provided that it is running) in order to save costs. While there were beds available, there were no mattresses. Sick individuals need to bring their own mattress or receive treatment and sleep on the floor, the same individuals who are often traveling many miles on public transport often after being told by closer health centers that there is no treatment available for them.

Despite this "free" care, drug and supply stockouts run rampant, particularly with IV fluids, anti-malarials, and blood. Patients report having to pay medical staff under the table to receive care, as many of the staff don't receive their full salaries as promised by the government. A 140+ bed in Rakai district runs on less than $51,000 per year, and hasn't seen a budget increase since the mid-1990s. While the cost of living is certainly lower in Uganda than in the US, such a sum is almost laughable by any standards.

Yet it hasn't been all bleak! We've seen doctors and clinicians find creative ways to solve drug shortages, from arranging swaps with other health centers in their district, and partnering with local private clinics to help administer vaccines. Many of the staff we interviewed expressed frustrations, but also hope for the future, and a true desire to help their community.  I also happened to be the only mzungu many of the children had ever seen before, several coming up to me and rubbing my skin, seemingly convinced I must be covered in something.

As an Upstate New Yorker, I had to document the above sign - Buffalo in Uganda!

Overall, we've been able to get some great information and insights, as well as get to enjoy the countryside. I also got to try some new foods, including jackfruit, which happens to look like something from Willy Wonka's chocolate factory at first sight:

Surprisingly delicious once you get past the spiky outside

Until next time!

Amey

Hello from Uganda!

Good afternoon from Uganda!

Lake Victoria!

I've been in Uganda for almost a month now, and in that time, have experienced incredible hospitality, several new foods, and more power outages than I can count.  This is my first time in Africa, and it's been a great experience so far.  I live in a village just out of Entebbe, where everyone has been very helpful and friendly - I probably hear "Hi, Mzungu!" at least five times a day!

I've spent the first few weeks getting familiar with the area and doing a lot of research on the existing healthcare infrastructure here in Uganda.  Despite public healthcare facilities offering services free of charge, there is certainly work to be done in getting to optimal health outcomes.  It's been especially eye-opening to discover that the leading causes of death in Uganda are treatable conditions that have been effectively eradicated in other countries.  While the increased world attention on the need to eradicate diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis has brought needed resources to underserved areas, many governments and aid agencies are understandably operating in crisis mode, leaving the future of healthcare in many countries such as Uganda uncertain.

I'm excited to spend time exploring the country to better understand how services and treatments are delivered and to speak directly to providers and patients alike on what they view as the largest accomplishments and challenges they see on a daily basis.

Obligatory wildlife photo - a rhino in the Entebbe zoo!

Until Next Time!
Amey