My trip experiences to Uganda

Ward & Dr. Turner Uganda Mission Trip Experiences September-October 2009

My husband, Ward Turner, and I, Denise Turner had the opportunity to travel to Jinja, Uganda this fall. The other members of our group were Reverend Daniel Situka and Reverend Bob Coberly. Ward and I have been supporting Rays of Hope Hospice in Jinja, Uganda for a couple of years (via Sovereign Wings of Hope Inc)and desired to see first-hand the work that is being accomplished through this ministry.

We arrived in Entebbe at 8:30 P.M., and were picked up at the airport by the hospice driver. It took us two hours to drive the 20 miles to the Anglican Guest House that we stayed in that evening. The airport parking lot and road were dark-and the electricity did not work. The road was congested with cars. The diesel exhaust caused my nose to burn continuously during the trip. The road was lined with shelters about the size of dumpsters. People were milling about in front of these shelters by the light of candles and the fires inside of metal cooking stoves.

The next morning, we set out for Jinja. One of the largest structure in Kampala (with the exception of the sports stadium)is a large, clean, modern mosque that was built by Momma Qaddafi. There is definitely a Muslim presence here and according to Daniel Situka, they are proselytizing heavily. Generous donations such as this mosque help to sway the people.

INPATIENT & HOSPITAL EXPERIENCES
That afternoon, we went to the hospital in Jinja. I met many of the palliative care staff members. The medical director of the palliative care service is a surgeon, Dr. Mirioce. She is an outstanding Christian lady that could undoubtedly obtain gainful employment in another part of the world where the work would be easier. However, she has chosen to remain in Uganda where the need is great. If I understood correctly, she donates her time to the hospice work. Her husband, Rev. Charles Wamukolo is a pastor.

RAYS OF HOPE -HOSPICE JINJA:
The administrator of the hospice is a young man, Shem. He also is an impressive Christian man. He accomplishes his work in a very professional manner. We had the opportunity to see him make a presentation to the local Rotary Club. He did an outstanding job and was extremely well-received. It was my understanding that he is a physician’s assistant. He was a volunteer for the hospice for nine months while employed elsewhere. When the position for hospice administrator became available, he was a logical choice. The nurses at the hospice are all Christians. We were impressed by the dedication of the staff that forges on with their work in spite of great economic disadvantages. We were also impressed by the tremendous need for this service. The one I became most acquainted with was Christine. She has two daughters in England. One is a physician and the other is an attorney.

THE NATIONALS’ LIFE:
During our stay in Uganda, we traveled with the hospice staff to see patients. We went to remote villages and saw people in their homes, at clinics and at the hospital. The living conditions are deplorable. Most of the people live in small plywood shelters, mud huts with thatched roofs, or for the most upscale, handmade brick huts with a corrugated metal roof. The houses have dirt floors and there is no electricity, sewer, or running water.

We observed that they prepare the land and plant crops by hand. Many times, a patient would be alone because family members were working in the fields. On Saturdays, we observed entire families in the fields working side-by-side, hoes in hand. This included young elementary age children. We also observed children carrying yellow plastic containers to collect water at remote wells or dirty ditches. The people did appear to be industrious, but poor.

At one home, Daniel informed me prior to the visit that the patient was a Muslim. When we arrived, the man started quoting Scripture to us and pointed to the Bible next to him. According to Shem, he had become a believer after witnessing the love of Christ in the hospice nurses who attended him. Needless to say, he can have an impact on his family. I noted in the hospice notes that many of the patients stated that they were Christians and that prayer comforted them. We prayed with many of the patients.

HOPSITAL VISIT:
We visited a patient in the hospital at 6 P.M. one evening. The hospital was made up of wards, 20 to 30 beds arranged in two rows facing each other. IVs were hung on nails on the walls. The beds were vintage World War I, I believe. Although poor and old, the facilities were clean. It was hot and humid inside the wards, and when people are able, they go outside to lie on blankets. Patients have to rely on family members to bring food, provide medications and linens. Without family, they do not have these items. The hospice team bought her a dinner. She was also in severe pain secondary to cancer, which was why the hospice was consulted. It was the only way that she could be provided with morphine.

DAY CARE (GROUP THERAPY PROGRAM)
The hospice also has a weekly “day program”. Interested patients are taught crafts so that they can help support their families. They also are educated regarding pertinent medical issues. A meal of boiled eggs, bread, bananas and tea was provided. Even though all of these individuals had cancer and many were young, they were joyful and sang hymns during the time that I was with them.

My observations were that the hospice needs a full-time chaplain. There is also a need for more nursing staff and basic equipment. In some places the nurses change the dressings on HIV positive patients without gloves, because funds are minimal. There are some basic hospice medications that they do not have. The staff needs medical benefits. They also have need of another vehicle, if one of the current vehicles cannot be fixed. We are fortunate to be associated with this group. They could be gainfully employed elsewhere, inside or outside of Uganda. They have the advantage of knowing the local languages and culture, and can minister to people in need in their own country.

FIELD EXPERIENCES:
I observed that patients and families who are dealing with a terminal illness are open to discussing spiritual issues. They know who cares and who doesn’t. Hospice care support has not generated a lot of interest. Most of us do not want to think about dying, although Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 states that it is better to be in the home of those who mourn that those who are feasting. I believe that the reason is that it makes us consider our lives. Although not “pretty”, or the “in” mission field, hospice care is definitely worthy of our support. Without us, many of these people will die in terrible pain, and without Christ, their eternal pain will be unfathomable.

I am available to give a presentation, with more patient care photos.
I would appreciate whatever contribution you would give for this cause. Plse. Send it to Sovereign Wings of Hope Inc. 17911 Pelican way rd, Houston Texas 77084
Respectfully submitted by,
Ward & Denise K. B. Turner M.D.
Tel 713 825 3730
sovereignwings@yahoo.com