Uganda Blog 3 – October 2023

Blog for Thurs 26th

Antoinette, Alli and Becs attended the University for a planned lecture but unfortunately the students appeared to have been double booked. The paeds team used this time to prepare for their afternoon session with the third years whilst waiting for Arnold our legendary driver!

We came to the referral hospital, and Antoinette spent the morning with the Drs on the ward round supporting and assisting in assessment and diagnosing patients. Alli and Becs worked with the nurses and student nurses, helping to allocate to distribute patient caseload. Using some of the equipment we were able to bring from the Poole Africa link, the nursing team were pleased to have some more thermometers and pulse oximeters. As they were a new group of students, we were able to discuss triage (using ETAT) and usual parameters for observations. The students had also
prepared a health promotion talk to parents on immunisation which we were able to watch. One student was talking in English whilst another was translating, in the middle of the ward! This
appeared to be well received by parents who asked questions and applauded them at the end.

The paediatric team then spent the afternoon back at the University. Antoinette gave the third years a lecture on ETAT, which we followed up with a quiz which demonstrated they had achieved the learning objectives. Antoinette then gave a talk on childhood anaemia and Alli and Becs then followed this lecture with Blood transfusion.

The iAIMS team (Pasco, Bethan and Elizabeth) joined the CME meeting for internal medicine at the referral hospital in the morning. The meeting commenced with Pasco and Bethan giving a presentation on AMR and the global impact it has, how to tackle it, and how to promote AMS. After the meeting, Dr Francis (head of internal medicine) asked the team the main issue they think contributes AMR as well as how they (the team) may be contributing to AMR; there was a great amount feedback. Finally, Dr Francis asked what the team think they can do to reverse AMR.

Blog for Fri 27th

Alli and Becs went back to the referral hospital paediatric unit and met with the sister Helen, who was happy to discuss trialling and editing of the PEWS chart, and nurse allocation chart that Sophie put together last week, and asked us to implement. Helen was keen for Alli and Becs to discuss both of these with the nurses and students. We were able to do a session teaching them the importance of recording observations, and the frequency of them according to acuity. After discussing it with the students, they asked if they could try and use them straight away! The plan is to get feedback from the nurses and students and continue implementing them next week.

We also met up with Winifred, the masters course lead and doctor. She was able to give Alli and Becs a tour of the maternity, antenatal, NICU services. In the afternoon, the masters year 2 students presented some case studies to the child health and maternity team. We were able to discuss what the students require regarding teaching next week. BOOM!

Pasco, Bethan and Elizabeth were at the referral hospital this morning for another CME, this time for the outpatient department. Pasco and Bethan presented on AMR/AMS. Maria (head of microbiology) presented on the microbiology menu (available tests in the lab) and how to properly request microbiology testing. Dr Francis asked the team the main challenges they encountered around microbiology and the treatment of infections. Some responses included accessibility, lack of knowledge around how/when to take samples and the practicalities of sample transportation to lab. Some challenges were tackled there and then, an interface/training session was scheduled for the following week, during our trip and the team brainstormed on next steps for making the most out of the microbiology service.

Pasco had a monitoring and evaluation review with Harriett (chief pharmacist) and the rest of the team to ensure that everything is on track to meet project targets and formulate a plan for the coming months, following return to the UK. Finally we made a plan for the week to come, continuing to embed the work and ensure all departments are fully engaged and ready to crack on.