Let's do this!

A year ago today, I was on my way back to the U.S. after a three week Drake University summer seminar in Uganda. I was there with 20 other Drake students, all looking to study sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. While in the country, we had countless life-changing experiences. We met with members of Parliament, fought the fear of charging hippos in the national park, and found out how grimy the guys of the group looked while attempting to grow “beards.” While there were many impactful experiences, the biggest impact was left by a beautiful and extremely hospitable village of Kikandwa.

To give you a bit of background, Kikandwa is the main trading center for a rural population of approximately 100,000, living within 15 to 20 kilometers of the village. Many individuals in the area do not continue past primary school (our equivalent of a middle school education). This is amplified by the fact that many who make it through higher education rarely return to benefit the community with their acquired higher education.

After speaking with over 50 community members, we were able to spot a huge need: access to any form of healthcare. Many of the illnesses within the community can be prevented and/or treated with simple practices, but the lack of knowledge and access to healthcare makes this extremely difficult. By design, the government provides free services and transportation to all Ugandans, but the follow-through on this commitment is extremely poor. The impact of this lack of commitment is amplified by the fact that around 30% of Uganda’s population lives below the poverty line. With many residents struggling to even afford care, transportation to the nearest facility 15 kilometers away makes matters even worse. Some of the village women often say, “A baby doesn’t decide to wait for a 15km walk before it wants to be born.” 

Since returning from the trip to Uganda, I have been extremely lucky to work with other Drake students and faculty to connect organizations and individuals interested in creating a self-sustaining health clinic with Kikandwa. By collaborating with multiple U.S. and Ugandan Rotaries, the Diocese of Uganda, the village elders, and the village’s newly assembled Health Clinic Committee, a network has been created to connect people that otherwise may not have been connected. These connections have not only helped bypass corruption in the country, but have also worked to unite the native Ugandans who will be able to ensure the long-term sustainability of the clinic.

While planning for health clinic, we faced the challenge of doing something different. After all, a clinic would be of little use if it fell victim to the “norm” of the country. The systematic construction of clinics and health centers was what gave rise to the very problem we were trying to combat. In order to help improve the health of the community, we needed a model that brought about change. This challenge was intensified not only by the need for change, but also by the need of sustainable change. With many potential solutions, we found a solution in something all around us: education.

With support from the Slay Fund for Social Justice at Drake University, I have the incredible opportunity to live in Kikandwa for three weeks researching the health education within the village. In addition to observing the current level of health education, I will also encourage talk of future implementation of a health curriculum, both within the schools as well as a part of the health clinic’s future model. Doing so will provide change to the Ugandan health clinic model by being the only known clinic to provide both health services and educational programming to the community. Essentially, the clinic will not only react to illness through treatment, but also help prevent some of the most prevalent illnesses through health education.

I plan to post daily for daily updates as well as one or two adventure stories along the way. Please feel free to read the posts, keep conversation alive, and experience the village of Kikandwa with me!