From the North to the South to the East

Back from the North!!

We got back from Northern Uganda yesterday, and man are we excited!!! We were able to see the Asayo's Wish Foundation Orphanage children in Kaberamaido, Uganda on January 1st, and then traveled to Purongo, Uganda in Gulu District to see the CPAR eRanger Ambulance, in preparation for setting up an Emergency Medical Services System in Ignaga District in conjunction with the Uganda Village Project and the District Health Offices.

The Asayo's Wish Children

Because of a delayed bag at the airport, we were only able to spend a few hours with the children in Kaberamaido, after 9 1/2 hours of driving to reach them... but it was the best few hours for which we could have hoped. The children began by welcoming us through the National Anthem and a prayer, then singing and dancing that lasted for the better part of an hour and a half!! What talented children they are. Most of the children recognized both Jamie and Jacquie, and were really excited to meet Anne, the mzungu taking snaps (pictures). Following their presentation, we were able to share a belated Christmas and New Year's together, blowed lots of bubbles together, and danced to the music of a local radio station. The children all expressed a desire to know of their mother, Sarah Asayo, AWF founder, and were pleased to hear that she was doing well. They also enquired of the other Vassar Uganda Project volunteers, and were thrilled to hear that some of them will be returning as a part of the Asayo's Wish Foundation in March. How we had, and now again do, miss those children.

The eRanger

Gulu District was one of the districts heavily affected by the Civil War in Northern Uganda. While Uganda has been relatively peaceful for the past 2-3 years, there are still several thousand Internally Displaced People (IDPs) that live in and around Gulu District. Purongo is a village located on Arua Road, between Arua and Gulu. While it is small, the health center serves several thousand IDPs in addition to many local villagers. Blessed by the purchase of an eRanger ambulance (motorcycle ambulance made in S. Africa... check out ranger.com for more information, or our website: www.vassarugandaproject.org) by the Canadian Physician's for Aid and Relief (CPAR), Purongo Health Center is now able to transport expectant mothers in labor to and from villages to the health center and from the Purongo Health Center to larger health centers in nearby villages. Through our conversations with the driver of the eRanger, the nurse at Purongo Health Center, and the sub-county district health official, we were able to see first-hand how the program worked and what a difference it has made.

As to its success, in the past month the Purongo eRanger has helped save the lives of 11 women experiencing complications of pregnancy, and 1 victim of a motor vehicle accident, in addition to transferring vaccines to a nearby hospital with a generator when the Purongo health center experienced a power outage.

With a much better understanding of how the eRanger has worked from another group in Uganda, and hearing how it has helped save lives within the past few weeks, we are committed to making a viable EMS Program work in Iganga. If you'd like more information, email us!

We're off to pick up the rest of the volunteers at the Entebbe Airport in about 1/2 an hour! We're excited for their arrival, and have an intense list of things to accomplish following it.

Thank you for everyone who has sent us emails of support, and commented on our blog. Stay tuned for pictures (Tuesday), and more updates!

~ Jacquie Law and Jamie Rosen