About Me

This blog is about Andrew Mockridge, a 5th Year Medical student and his elective in Gulu Uganda. During the 2 months, he shall be working in the Gulu Regional Referral hospital and the surrounding district undertaking research and clinical work in the hospital. The people of Gulu have suffered immensely in a recent civil war with the LRA in Uganda. Many lives have been lost and the rebuilding of infrastructure, education and communities still remains to be developed to this present day. TB and HIV are very prevalent in the region and this is where the research will be centred. I will be collecting patient details from local health offices and visiting the rural districts to identify suitable patients and arrange them to be seen by the research team in May/June time. The other part of my work will be spending time looking after poorly patients in Gulu Regional Referral hospital. I'm sure I will learn alot from a healthcare system so different to our own!

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Power cuts, hot weather and D+V

The last few days have been quite interesting in Gulu. Firstly there has been the African Medical Student conference which is quite prestigious, even to the point of the First lady of Uganda coming to make a speech. The educational link between Manchester and Gulu has helped to reduce maternal mortality by 50% as quoted at the conference. This is a fantastic achievement for both the people of Uganda and the efforts of the people who come to help develop the health system in Gulu.

The security at the first day of the conference was VERY tight. Airport style scanner, government/army guards and strictly no electronic devices allowed...which was a shame given that I would have loved to have taken some photos. I am also going to be presenting and doing a workshop which will be good towards my CV as it counts as a presentation and workshop at an International conference!

The electricity to supply in Gulu is very temperamental at the best of times and water is not always available. A few colleagues have moved back to the UK, which has left us with lots of wonderful fans free...This was certainly the best nights sleep I've had so far! Unlike my unfortunate colleagues who have ended up with a nasty episode of D+V. I hope they feel better soon!

We are all going to Murchison falls on Thursday which is a beautiful waterfall and National park, very much looking forward to this. Hopefully will get to see the hospital this afternoon to see what lies ahead in the next few weeks...

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3 comments:

  1. deb tortoise30 March 2012 at 06:47

    The fans will proabably help with the mosi problem - blow them all away. You ahve my sympathy. I was in Nigeria in 1991 and got bitten to pieces and reacted as you did with the bee sting.

    Today sees the end to our summer-like weather: clear blue sky and 20C. We're now back to having the heating on and my bikini has already gone through the wash (probabaly much to Om and Deena's relief as they can see me over the garden fence). I bet you can't remember what it's like to feel cold.

    I have been doing almost daily reces and collecting dandelion flowers from the "unplanned" half of your front garden. Fury has been keeping me company and is fabulously fierce when it comes to defending her territory and fighting off other cats. I have discovered she has no desire to be fussed or stroked, which means I can keep my skin on my body, where it belongs, but instead is quite happy having a chat and chasing the odd dandelion leaf I throw her way.

    I am please to report that the "planned" half of the garden looks lovely. The lawn is perfectly mown and the stones around the tree trunk have been gleaming white in the (now departed) sunshine. I imagine the inside is equally impressive and wonder how I can encourage such cleaning in this home.

    Congratulations on your international conference attendance, and the soon to be speaking and workshop. What next? A Nobel prize? It sounds as if you are keeping very busy and thoroughly enjoying soaking up all the experiences in your new environment.

    I am now off to Asda. This does not compare with the Murchison Falls or the Nile, but is the best I have. Really, really hope you are feeling happy and at least a bit settled and not missing home. I think it's always worse for the ones left behind, with nothing different to experience and lots of familiar things to remind, but hopefully, everyone is happy.

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  2. deb tortoise30 March 2012 at 06:50

    p.s. I do know how to spell "have" and "probably", but am not very good at typing.

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  3. Andrew Mockridge30 March 2012 at 14:55

    Thanks for the update debs! you are already making me feel at "home"! shame that indian summer has passed so fast...my bees were loving it before I left...hopefully lots of honey this year. That "planned" part of my garden will be finished off..much to the delight of the nasty woman who gives the garden evils and derogatory looks from around the forested bit on our road.

    Enjoy Asda and Fur ;) x

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