Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. In the time that you take to read this message, at least one woman will have died as a result of her pregnancy and labour. Almost all of these deaths are preventable. Most of us see pregnancy as a time of joy and of hope. For millions of women in the world, it is anything but that. 

  

The RCOG Smile Appeal sends doctors and midwives with equipment to provide training, education and hands-on expertise to some of the most deprived regions of the world. As part of this programme, I have now been working in as a doctor in Western Uganda since January 2012.  

 

Through generous funding by Fellows and Members of the RCOG, we have managed to implement many strategies to sustain improvement at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.  We have ordered bednets to reduce the risk of malaria transmission, and have introduced curtains on the antenatal ward to facilitate easier examination and patient privacy, and the department is now using a patient board to clarify when medications and clinical reviews are due to take place. 

 

One of my main roles is teaching, which can sometimes prove difficult, partly due to the lack of available space close to the wards. I am pleased to report we were recently granted permission to renovate an area adjacent to the ward, and we now have a more appropriate teaching environment. The proximity of the new room to the ward makes it easier for staff to attend sessions whilst remaining easily accessible in the event of an emergency. This area has already been used by midwives, medical students and doctors.

I hope to help reduce infection rates through implementation of a hand hygiene programme, as infections are the leading cause of maternal mortality in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. We have formed a hand hygiene team, and have had our first meeting dedicated to the effective implementation of the programme. We plan to publicise a hand hygiene project in the obstetrics and gynaecology department, teach the practical skills that form the basis of the World Health Organisation's ‘5 Moments for Hand Hygiene’ concept, and to provide training on the indications for performing hand hygiene.  Again we will plan to use funds kindly donated through the RCOG for our initial supplies of reusable single-use handtowels, water dispensers, soap and alcohol gel to get this project started. 

There is still a lot of work to do. I currently sit on a maternal mortality committee where we have identified the lack of appropriate antenatal care as a significant problem. In the future, along with help from other committee members, I hope to improve these services by providing necessary equipment to establish a high risk antenatal clinic and by producing referral criteria for distribution among other health units to improve antenatal care. 

Small changes still require funds.  My husband and I are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on the 4th of July and we would appreciate any support you can give us.  Our trip is self-funded and all donations will be used to improve the care of mothers and their babies at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.

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