History
John, our clinic manager, Laurence, our gifted nurse, and Alice, Laurence's nursing assistant, continue to see patients every day but Sunday.
April 2008
San Francisco Marathon, Baby!
It is all going down on August 3rd, 2008 in San Francisco, California. We are running a marathon in the name of Engeye! What does that mean? That means that we will run through the hills of San Francisco, knowing that each step we take will literally bring us one step closer towards our goal of improving health and alleviating unnecessary suffering for people who are not able to advocate for themselves. We are so close. We can do it. We invite you to join our crusade. Walk (or run) with us or show support from the sidelines! Join the revolutionaries!
Visit the Engeye SF Marathon page
March 2008
Pioneers in global health. Stepping outside our small, personal microcosm. Creating lasting change. Learning. Teaching. Taking risks. Challenges. Victories. Providence Hospital's first mission to Uganda encompassed all these facets and proved to be a great success. The team brought many supplies to Engeye clinic, treated hundreds of patients and worked closely with Laurence, Engeye's head nurse, as well as Laurence's student nurses in training. They shared knowledge and ideas and are already planning their next return.
November 2007
Nobody said building and maintaining a health clinic half way around the world in partnership with a country starkly different than our own would be easy. Not easy for the Ugandans, nor the Americans. And definitely not stress-free for the few key individuals working behind the scenes to organize, plan, and fundraise.
But Clinic Manager John and Nurse Practitioner Laurence are persevering in Uganda under the challenging circumstances, working daily at the clinic seeing and treating patients to the best of their ability. And despite the rigors of medical and engineering school and full-time work, the November 2007 team found the time to prepare for 6 months prior to their journey to Uganda to ease some of the challenges faced at Engeye Health Clinic.
In collaboration with local Ugandans, the November team successfully installed 4 solar panels and wired the clinic and parts of the volunteer houses as a first step toward acquiring reliable electricity. For the first time ever, the clinic had light! Under the supervision of a local doctor the team administered malaria quick tests and other basic health care needs.
The team bore gifts for the local primary school - from workbooks to musical instruments - and fought back tears as they were treated to the traditional and heart-felt Ugandan thank-you in the form of music and dancing by the local children.
At the close of the long days, the team played guitars, danced and caroused under newfound light, at the same time bringing two cultures closer together than most Americans or Ugandans will ever experience with another culture in their lifetime.
April 2007
Saw the opening of the doors of the Engeye Health Clinic for the first time.
Two doctors, a trauma nurse and 12 medical students from Albany Medical College hit the ground running in the first few days of April. So little time - so great the need.
Thanks to the remarkable efforts of our colleague John Kalule and with guidance from Brigitte and Bruce Daley at Tekera Resource Centre, the clinic was ready for business upon our arrival. Exam beds were in place, medications on site, and volunteers' quarters comfortably furnished.
Word of the clinic's debut had been spreading through Ddegeya and neighboring villages for months, so it was no surprise to see more than 200 people in line on our first morning. Nearly 1,000 villagers would pass through our doors before it was time to say good-bye.
Malaria and STD's were rampant, pneumonia, HIV, and skin infections widespread. Positive diagnoses were not always possible without a lab on site, however we hope that we can have that problem solved by the time we return in November. Accurate records and statistics were gathered as well, and will be analyzed to facilitate our future goals.
We were able to achieve our goal of sustainability by hiring a local Ugandan nurse, Ronaldo, who will keep the doors of the clinic open full-time. John Kalule will remain as the clinic manager.
This trip proved to be a profoundly inspirational learning experience for all of the volunteers. We accomplished so much and couldn't have done it without your compassionate support.
2006
As the departure date for our summer's mission came closer, we were fortunate to have two volunteers join our team.
Our first priority for the summer was transferring the title for the clinic land from the previous owner to John's name. Once that was accomplished, we determined which part of the 5 acre parcel would be utilized for the clinic site. Machetes in hand, we cleared the site of a mix of banana trees, coffee trees, and maize. A crew of 50 local villagers then were hired to begin the process of leveling, digging, and building.
The completion date for the clinic and three volunteer buildings is expected to be in late August 2006.
2000
Stephanie Van Dyke spent time living and volunteering in Katooke Village in rural Uganda. The urgent need for the most basic medical care that she witnessed every day was her inspiration for choosing a career in medicine, with the ultimate goal of building self-sustaining clinics in Uganda and other underserved areas.
Also during this time Stephanie met and befriended John Kalule, a native Ugandan, who helped her adjust to the challenges posed by life in rural Africa (including, but not limited to, sharing her bed with rats and fire ants).
Stephanie and John remained in touch in the ensuing years and John has devoted himself to helping ensure the project's success.