The Devastation of War.

A BBC article shows just how devastating war can be. Mapping a small community, the BBC shows how in one small village of 15 compounds in Northern Uganda, each person has been deeply affected. The Women Of Kireka are in the same position: they’ve lost a husband, friends, children and relatives. They’ve lost their fundamental rights to land, freedom, health, well-being, education and more.

$1000!

Thanks everyone for you input and donations. We’ve now hit $1000! $22,000 to go!

75,000 fleeing LRA.

The LRA clearly continue to represent an active threat. While many thought they were slowly being dismantled through inner bickering, the estimated 75,000 people who are fleeing the area attacked by the LRA last week say it’s not so.

LRA still hold 90 children.

Not long ago, a good friend of mine wondered if Northern Ugandans should really be confident that the war in the North is over. Of course, I had no doubt. Logically, you can’t continue to live in fear after over two decades. Yet, he might have been right. It seems the LRA is still active and continue to hold 90 children in the Congo. I’m not saying that the LRA will soon be back in Uganda, but it does mean the peace process is really over and military containment of the LRA must happen soon.

Diaspora donation.

Thanks Teddy for (another) donation! Teddy is a member of the Ugandan diaspora. Check out his excellent work here and here.

Live on Project Diaspora!

Please check out Teddy’s article on the Women of Kireka on Project Diaspora. Teddy is a Ugandan now living in Dallas, Texas. For a little taste on what you’re in for, I’ve pulled this from the website.

We here by pledge to mobilize, engage, and motivate the African Diaspora to take an active role in Africa’s economic, social, and cultural revitalization. We believe the economic assistance and relief models provided by the World Bank, IMF and other monetary or relief organizations to Africa has spectacularly failed on it’s promises over the last 30 years.

We propose a new model. There are over 167 million Africans in the Diaspora. As of 2007, financial remittances by these Africans topped $40 billion annually. That’s capital that’s directly involved in the sustainability of lives—through the stimulation of education, finance, health, and social sectors. We believe this model is far more effective in changing the Africa’s economic landscape. The continued direct involvement of Africa’s Diaspora community is our solemn mission.

Violence continues.

The war in Northern Uganda is not over yet. The Lord’s Resistance Army attacked a village in Southern Sudan. They also abducted 50 children. See here and here.

More donations.

Big thanks to Budr for his kind donation!

Our first donation!

Chris, Lena, Svea, Sara and Sebastian Anstis made a donation to the Women of Kireka. Thanks family!

A hospital visit that was inspiring and life saving

It was in the afternoon when we picked a motorcycle from Kireka to Bugolobi Family clinic where I knew one of the doctors who could do us a favor, in case the money would not be enough, and still give treatment provided we pay the bills later.

When we reached the clinic, we were given a good reception and told to open a file so we can be allocated a reference number for future consultations and treatment. When this was done, we were directed to another room to  wait for our turn to see the doctor.

When out turn came, we went in and the doctor was very receptive; I had to go with Grace and Gloria because they do not speak English well and could not explain themselves clear enough. After narrating to the doctor Grace’s health history for the past seven years, the Doctor asked a few questions which Grace answered and that formed the basis of the diagnosis and prescription. He later told us that Grace is not suffering from cancer as people were deceiving her but from fungal infection which has taken so long in the body and now coming to its chronic stage. He assured Grace that she would be fine since there are drugs for such infections.

Gloria’s case.

It did not take the doctor a long time to realize and tell us that Gloria was suffering from allergies even before any explanation was done. He told us the yellow color of her eyes Gloria denotes allergy. Allergies in some children presents itself with changing the color of the eyes and making it very itchy which was Gloria’s exact complaint.

Mary’s case,

Mary has a long history of pressure on her back and this time she had a serious backache, which prompted me to immediately take her to the clinic as well. She knows a bit of English so while seeing the Doctor she went alone I do not know what they discussed. All in all, the prescription for treatment of the trio was done and we were referred back to the nurse to get the drugs.

Outcome

The treatment was very effective and right now the two are in good health especially Mary and Gloria. Grace has improved but not fully she needs more medication thus money for the same. According to her, that drug makes her very weak that she can no longer crush stones after taking it. She was requesting money for medication for other doses so that she could become perfectly well. She is also requesting for some money for feeding while on drugs.

This is what they had to say – in their own words.

“You came from nowhere and you managed to help seven years pain, you showed Gloria unconditional love you managed to heal their wounds from deep inside not just the surface. It’s joy to know some other people care about others. They wish you were more that a hundred such big hearts ; the world would be a better place to live in.’’ Grace added that the mere knowing that she is not suffering from Cancer BUT  =a curable Fungal disease was a very big Relief and she attributes it all to  our caring hearts and hands; she never expected such a miracle in her miserable life.

The visit cost about 85$ including transportation and medication.

Grace still needs more medication and many of the other women also need to see the doctor.

- written by Beatrice -