In areas of Africa with Malaria the use of mosquito bed nets and administration of high-dose vitamin A can halve the death rate of children under 5.
Since 2010 SHAPE has been working with a local church group in the Anglican Parish of Busamaga, 30 km East of Mbale.
Teams from SHAPE have made three visits to the area and have now distributed a total of 2300 bed-nets.
In June 2010 SHAPE funded medicines, local transport costs and almost 1000 mosquito bednets – enough to protect every young child and pregnant woman within the community. Working with a local nurse and a team organised by the community SHAPE trustee Dr Neil Fletcher ran a clinic in each village to distribute the bed nets and give a high dose of vitamin A to all children under 5. Click here here to read the daily updates the team sent back to UK during visits.
In 2011 a further 300 mosquito nets were distributed. A survey of bed-net usage, led by Dr Kirsty Alexander was carried out to check that the bed-nets distrubuted in 2010 are being used correctly.
In September 2012 SHAPE teams distributed a further 1000 bed-nets. Click here here to read a report by team leader Julie Garnham.
In 2014 the bed nets distributed in 2010 were due for renewal. Our plan was to do that and make new distrubitions in other villages. However, the Ugandan government announced funding for a country-wide bed net distribution that should make this unnecessary. Our focus therefore shifted to funding and building a much-needed Health Centre in Busamaga.
In October and November 2015 the Busamaga health centre was built with finance provided by SHAPE and the building work managed by Charlie Smith on behalf of SHAPE. The health centre consists of 6 rooms, including rooms for treatment, labour, waiting, dispensary and staff accommodation. In addition there are a separate toilet block. The centre was opened by SHAPE committee members Julie Garnham and Shan South and local representatives in Dec 2015.
To find out more about our trip read our report on the visit by Julie & Shan in 2015 to Busamaga. During this visit Shan and Julie also carried out a survey of the state and usage of the bednets previously distributed
By April 2016 the health centre was operating to support the local community staffed by 7 including a qualified nurse and two auxiliary nurses provided by the local health authority. Later in December of that year Dr Neil Fletcher visited Busamaga to find out how the centre was running and to evaluate needs for equipment that SHAPE might fund.
As of August 2022 SHAPE continues to pay the salary of a full time midwife, and a part time lab technician. In addition, we provide funds to buy medical equipment and replenish the stock of drugs and clinical consumables. SHAPE also pays for 3 Vaccinators and 6 Village Health Teams that mobilise the local communities. (Note: The Rotary Club of Cheltenham has kindly committed to paying the salary of the Lab Technician for a 3 year period).
With your generous help – SHAPE will continue to support the Health Centre in the medium and long term.
Local governance is provided through a Health Centre Management Committee which reports regularly to SHAPE. Through this committee funding requests are made and considered by SHAPE and funding provided based on needs and priorities. Receipts are obtained for all spending of SHAPE monies in Uganda. As of March 2024 the Committee was made up as follows:
- Rev. John Dindya Patron
- Canon James Wanyaka Chairperson
- Mr. Benic Nambasi Vice Chairperson
- Mr. Isaac Mafabi Secretary and SHAPE Representative
- Mrs. Rebecca Wabyanga Member
- Ms. Christine Nandudu Member
- Mr. Alex Gidudu Member
- Mr. Richard Wambede Sub county Representative
- Mr. Anthony Wadeya Catholic Representative
- Mr. Isa Wedembe Muslim Representative
- Ms. Rehema Gimono In-charge
- Mr. Mabberi Moses PCC Secretary & Committee Treasurer
Treatment statistics are provided to SHAPE on a fortnightly basis and, as an example, in the fortnight up to 14th April 2024 figures were as follows:-
Outpatients (91)
– Maternity (4)
– Antenatal (34)
– Family planning (17)
– Child Immunisation (97)
SHAPE is proud that the District Health Authority values our Health Centre and from which the Authority operates a much wider immunisation scheme than would have been possible before.