Herona Hospital Solar Powered and Independent of Grid

IMET  Sponsors and Herona Hospital Eye Team Runs First Albino Day in East Uganda

June 19, 2022

Latest News from Herona Hospital in Uganda

May 20, 2022

 The Director of Herona Hospital, Dr Henry Garvin Mukalazi and our IMET Representative in Africa, Richard Field, have just sent this comprehensive report for the month of April,2022. It really is very comprehensive and encouraging. In May already, we have heard that the Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance has at last been shipped from Dubai to Mombasa and should be delivered to Herona Hospital next week. Furthermore, the solar panels are being connected to storage batteries today and once the system is up and running, Herona Hospital should be independent of the unpredictable National Grid. The large oxygen generator is working well to piped oxygen for the surgical suites and the dedicated CV19 ward of 12 beds. All this has been funded through large grants awarded to IMET2000.

To read the report please click the link below:

Herona Hospital Monthly Report for April

 Another Successful Cataract Day in Herona Hospital

 May 6, 2022

 On Sunday, April 30, ophthalmic surgeon Dr Susan Kakira and her team from Jinja Hospital spent the day operating for cataracts on another 20 patients out of the IMET2000 -Uganda  waiting list of 450 we want to treat in 2022. All were successful. We are pleased that out of 60 already done in 2021 and 2022, none have failed so far. Dr Susan was so pleased with the newly installed piped oxygen, improved anaesthesia and excellent theatre nurses that she has asked Herona Hospital to ensure she does as many cataracts this year as can be fitted in. IMET2000 is so grateful that this has been made possible by a wonderful grant from The Ulverscroft Foundation. The charming words of the Director of Herona Hospital, Dr Henry Garvin Mukalazi  below tells us all :

Dear Prof, 

On behalf  of our patients  and staff, I take this opportunity  to thank International Medical Education Trust ( IMET2000) for their financial support which has enabled us to complete 20 cataract surgeries on patients  from the community at no cost to the patient. Trust me there is no hospital  in Uganda that has such opportunity to its people. Thanks and thanks again for restoring vision  in our people.

Henry Garvin

More Good News From Ghana

May 5, 2022

The two senior and essential members of staff supported by IMET2000 in Lawra, Ghana, Gabriel and Kaamil have both had incredible starts to the year. Kaamil has expanded the SNAP programme to 2 new communities, setting up new monthly support groups and carrying out extensive case work with 70 new children. This takes the number of disabled children cared for in the SNAP Programme to 250. He recruited a new Programme Coordinator – Helen Gala. Helen is a wonderful addition to the team – a qualified social worker with specific skills in physiotherapy and speech therapy. She also has a physical disability herself, so is an inspirational role model to the children she works with. This year – the SNAP Team have enabled 43 disabled children to attend school -39 at mainstream local schools and 4 to specialist boarding schools. This has taken huge dedication and hard work. They have carried out skills workshops for mothers, training them to make shea butter.

Gabriel continues to lead the team with incredible kindness and skill. Gabriel drives our charity Action Through Enterprise (ATE) forwards with so much enthusiasm, expanding into new areas and improving existing projects. This year he has set up a new Hub in rural Tanchara, serving a large community of 3800 people with our three programmes – SNAP, EducATE (access to education) and BizATE (small business development). Gabriel is wonderful at his job. IMET2000 is so pleased with progress that it has pledged to support these two men for the next 12 months.

Herona Hospital Welcomes Piped Oxygen Via Peak Scientific Generator

April 24, 2022

We are proud to report that Herona Hospital has now got a much better oxygen supply due to a very  generous donation from Peak Scientific and their Founder and CEO Robin MacGeachy. Here are the latest photos of the Peak Scientific oxygen generator now working perfectly and producing medical grade 94% oxygen. The South African engineer Reghard  shown in the photos worked miracles to get it ready and working by the time the visiting CHEIRA surgical/gynaecological team of 8 arrived to work hard each day for 9 days. It arrived from Mombasa badly damaged and Reghard had to put it together with many spare parts flown in urgently and then get it running and properly tested. He succeeded  the same day the Swiss team arrived. The team and anaesthetists particularly expressed wonderment that we had installed so much new equipment since they last visited in autumn last year and enjoyed their mission so much that they are returning later this year. Perhaps apart from much better anaesthesia for the patients the most obvious benefit of the piped oxygen was that two surgical teams could operate in two theatres at the same time so nearly double the number of difficult cases could be treated. Another important bonus is that CHEIRA are so impressed with progress that they have confirmed that they will use Herona Hospital as their HQ for an expanding programme in Africa in future. The piped oxygen is also life-saving for severely ill patients in our dedicated COVID-19 ward of 12 beds. That too is hugely important. Many thanks to Robin and all his team.

Plans for New Cataract Operations in Herona Hospital

 November 30, 2021

The collaboration with Dr Susan Kikira, senior consultant ophthalmic surgeon based in Jinja Hospital and Herona Hospital has resulted in another cataract eye clinic when 20 were done successfully in one day by Dr Kikira on Sunday 28 th November. The full time optometrist Linda Hasfa is still extremely busy and has built up the service such that we may have to recruit another at least part time. Some of the patients needing cataract operations are very young but of course, most are beyond middle age and are virtually blind. In the younger population, many children and adolescents are going blind un-necessarily with treatable eye conditions such as trachoma so we will try to raise more funds to cover additional costs and subsidise the cataract costs for the poorest people. There are near 350 patients on the waiting list for cataract operations, some bilateral, and most cannot afford the costs in Kampala. We are now aiming to do one such one-day clinic every month starting in February 2022 and try to clear the backlog as quickly as possible. Each operation costs IMET2000 £110 so in a day 20 patients are treated and the cost/day is therefore roughly £2,200. We regard this as one of our best investments for 2022. Now that we have a new Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance, we also plan to run at least one visual impairment outreach clinic per month in poor rural villages as far away as 60 kilometres from Herona Hospital and this will almost certainly mean that more difficult operations and treatments will come to the Hospital in Kisoga Town. 

Herona Hospital Director’s Report on CHEIRA Surgical Mission

November 10, 2021

 The Director of Herona Hospital in Uganda, Dr Henry Garvin Mukalazi, has just sent this report and photos on the recent visit by surgeons working for our partners the Swiss charity CHEIRA.

Dear Prof,

We had a successful surgical camp and are extremely grateful for the support of the Swiss charity CHEIRA. The visiting team of three surgeons had no major complaints as the patients had warm blankets and WiFi access and our anaesthetic officer used the anaesthetic machine IMET2000 procured and donated and it worked perfectly.   

This time it was a capacity-building mission.  Dr Patricia,  a visceral surgeon from Austria, taught us the Basini and Linchestain procedures of hernia repair.  We worked on a total of 23 patients and all recovered well (even one with a connective tissue disease and very thin muscles in whom it was hard for us to insert the mesh ). I think I benefited more since I was doing my surgery rotation at the University Medical School.

CHEIRA are planning and looking forward to another surgical camp in April next year (probably in gynaecology).   Dr Patricia plans to come back next year for another capacity building mission but this time she expects to stay for 2 months   I have promised her 300 cases since our patients often stay with hernias for up to 40 years due to scarcity of money and there are many on the waiting lists.

 New Ambulance and Mobile Clinic Service in Herona Hospital, Uganda

November 9,2021

Progress in the Ambulance and Outreach Mobile Clinics Service of Herona Hospital from the purchase of the second hand Toyota Hiace Ambulance in March 2019 to the recent purchase and donation by IMET2000 of a fully equipped and brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance has been phenomenal and we seek to build on this success still further because the latest ambulance is far more capable of reaching distant villages in the wet season along heavily rutted mud tracks. The Toyota Hiace has been completely overhauled and renovated and is still providing an excellent service along good roads.

Thanks to a major grant from the Randal Charitable Foundation to IMET2000 as well as our own fundraising programme, as Herona Hospital now has two ambulances,  this completely alters our ability to run far more outreach clinics to probably five per month. The second hand Toyota Hiace Ambulance we donated in May 2019 has proven of enormous benefit but although perfect for traffic accidents and bringing in patients along reasonable roads, it can get stuck in the rainy season trying to reach rural villages along deeply rutted dirt tracks. The number of outreach clinics has also been limited since if away from base all day there was then no other transport available for urgent cases.

This vehicle has just last month been completely overhauled and renovated and is in good condition as shown in the photo below. This ambulance will now be used primarily for emergency transport of serious cases needing to be brought into the hospital.

The recently purchased and donated well-equipped Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance (see photo below) at a cost of £48,000 is currently being fitted at no extra charge with a heavy-duty roof rack which will allow bulky tents and equipment to be carried outside the vehicle and allow more space inside for patient care needed in the mobile outreach clinics. This vehicle is designed to be able to cross flooded streams and deeply rutted dirt tracks so that it can serve many more villages with difficult access and no other health care.

We now plan to run 5 different outreach clinics to poorly served villages for four main health needs including:

·         Eye and visual impairment clinics (one per month)

·         HIV/Sickle cell/diabetes/hypertension clinics (one per month)

·         Basic dental service (one per month)

·         Family planning, maternal health and sexually transmitted diseases (twice a month).

In all these outreach clinics, information on the prevention and management of COVID-19 infection will be handed out in simply illustrated pamphlets to village elders.

Additional equipment is needed for each discipline for these mobile clinics and the most urgent needed equipment we need to donate as a one-off cost to budget for.   Running costs including medicines, disposables, ambulance and staff wages also need budgeting but will be dependent on the number of clinics run each month and how many patients need more expensive treatment.

Any contribution to this project would be much appreciated not just by IMET2000 but more importantly the Ugandan staff and their patients. Most of these villages are desperately poor financially so most treatments have to be provided free or at a very low cost. This is not entirely one-sided altruism as we also benefit.  The word spreads rapidly in Africa and our Herona Hospital gains from excellent publicity which is noted at the Ministerial level and throughout the Health Sector as well as Nursing and Medical Schools. For IMET2000 the benefit gained from the carefully audited data and results is incalculable in working up courses and workshops in EXTREME HEALTHCARE. Thank you.

Herona Hospital in Uganda on Film

September11,2021

Our Man in Africa, Richard Field, and Dr Henry Garvin Mukalazi (Director of Herona Hospital in Uganda) have made this short film linked below to update us on progress over the last year and promote some plans for the future. It is remarkable what they have achieved in just four years with the continued support of the Paul Foundation and IMET2000. Our next big project to make it the best hospital in Mukono District is to improve the drinking water supply and to install solar panels to fully power all needs including 3-phase supply for X-Ray and the oxygen generator 24/7.

Recent News from Herona Hospital in Uganda

 April 11, 2021

IMET2000 is pleased to report significant progress in the establishment of Herona Hospital in Uganda. First of all, the 40-foot container sent out last year with beds and equipment purchased by Kathy Green and donated to the Hospital, has been moved onto firm foundations, roofed and converted into administrative offices and patient note archive storage at very low cost.

This has released precious space in the main hospital building now converted to laboratory and patient care facilities. Second, thanks to a generous grant from the Paul Foundation, a basic Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been decorated and equipped with patient monitors, pulse oximeters, CPAP respirators, quality beds and piped oxygen. Finally, Senior Nurse Lekulu Hasifa, a long serving staff member in Herona Hospital has started her Julie Felix Memorial Scholarship in Maternal Health with a strong course in midwifery the main objective of a BSc in Victoria Hospital. We wish her the very best in her academic journey and thank all the kind UK donors to IMET2000 who helped fund this scholarship.

 IMET2000 Renews Salary Support for Kaamil Issahaku in Ghana

April 1, 2021

We have been so impressed by the wonderful work of the Action Through Enterprise (ATE) charity Manager Kaamil Issahaku in an important programme of support for children with disabilities (and their Mothers) in a very poor region of Ghana that we have decided to renew his salary for the calendar year 2021. In the letter of thanks, we have just today received from Kaamil (Click Here to view), you can read all about the SNAP programme that he is dedicated to as well as many other managerial duties he undertakes. He is an outstanding man and another champion in Africa we are proud to support. He has his own nuclear family (wife and three girls) but from the photos, you can see his love and genuine interest in his regional family touching the lives by example of many hundreds of needy people.   

 Richard Field is Back in Uganda for Three  Months

 December 27, 2020

 Richard Field flew out to Uganda on the 19^th December, only 12 hours before lockdown would have made that impossible. He arrived safely and was almost immediately overtaken by work in both the Ebenezer Children’s Home and Herona Hospital. Typical Richard, he threw himself into the children’s and hospital staff Christmas fun and has sent back this lovely photo of the children with the presents sent from the UK in his flight baggage. He reports the good news that the 54 year old lady who had the hip prosthesis as the first case diagnosed in the  Herona Hospital Orthopaedic Department is walking well with a frame. Richard is so pleased with progress in both the home and the hospital but clearly, there is much to be done in maintenance and more improvements. In IMET2000 we are fundraising toward a target of £50,000 for 2021 for basic essentials but would love to raise enough to clear the waiting list of 350 cataracts needing financial support.

 The Herona Hospital Eye Clinic is Increasingly Busy

November 30, 2020

The collaboration with Dr Susan Kikira, senior consultant ophthalmic surgeon based in Jinja Hospital and Herona Hospital is flourishing and she is not only willing to work in the Herona Hospital Eye Clinic on a paid basis but is giving invaluable advice on equipment and other improvements still needed to bring it right up to international standards. The service provided already comprises cataract operations (for example 20 were done successfully in one day by Dr Kikira on Sunday 29^th November) and the newly recruited full time optometrist is extremely busy. She dealt with 66 patients in just one day on the 26^th November and her high reputation is growing by the day. This service is particularly important to IMET2000 as so many young people are going blind un-necessarily with treatable eye conditions so we will try to raise more funds to cover additional costs and subsidise the cataract costs for the poorest people. There are near 350 patients on the waiting list for cataract operations, some bilateral, and most cannot afford the costs in Kampala.

Herona Hospital Opens Its  New Orthopaedic Department

November 16, 2020

IMET2000 is proud to announce the opening of the Herona Hospital new Orthopaedic Department made possible by the installation of a full X-Ray service and recruitment of a well- qualified orthopaedic surgeon. This service is needed urgently as there are so many traffic accidents in the area and no other hospital in Mukona District has such a good imaging department. Victims have in the past had to go into Kampala for treatment. The first hip replacement is in a 54 year old lady with a severely damaged joint which causes extreme pain (see X-Ray image below). The surgery is to be completed this week. We wish her every success. This too has been funded by IMET2000 and our African representative Richard Field.

 Brand New Generator for Herona Hospital

November 16, 2020

 The mains electricity supply to Herona Hospital frequently shuts down and it has depended on an old 17kV generator to cut in whenever this occurred over the last two years. However, last week that too failed beyond repair in the midst of a C-section surgical delivery which had to be completed by torchlight. Richard Field strongly recommended that we borrow from IMET2000  reserves and personal loans to purchase a brand new Perkins Diesel 40kV generator costing £5000 in Uganda. This is shown in the photos below. We agreed that this was an emergency and sent out the necessary funds to purchase and install it today. This machine is far more powerful and capable of coping with the 3-phase supply needed for the X-Ray and with the greatly enlarged hospital since it was completed.

 Upgrading the Eye Clinic for Cataract Surgery in Herona Hospital

November 16, 2020

 In a recent visit by Dr Susan Kikira to plan future upgrading of the Eye Clinic and a full day ‘Cataract Day’, she saw what was already available including the operating microscope purchased by Kathy Green and sent out months ago. Dr Susan is a well- regarded ophthalmic surgeon heading a good unit in Jinja Hospital and is prominent in the Society of Ophthalmology of East Africa. She provided a comprehensive list of equipment needed for a full day of operating in which 20 patients would be treated by her team of four. This was budgeted at about £4000 and IMET2000 agreed to cover this cost as it would kick-start our own surgical service in the Eye Clinic learning from Dr Susan during the day. Future cataract operations would be done at a much lower cost once the additional equipment was on site. The day is scheduled for December 14^th. Now that the service has built up and the clinic is open Monday to Friday each week, a full time optometrist has been recruited and is already well settled in and busy with many patients.

The Julie Felix Maternity Unit as Busy as Ever

October 27, 2020

 This short film has been put together by our IMET2000 Official Representative in Africa, Richard Field. It shows just why Herona Hospital is so attractive to ladies in trouble with childbirth. The care is excellent and if they have to have C-sections they can be done in the same hospital with excellent survival rates for both mothers and their babies. Please have a look via this link below.

 The X-ray Suite Opened in Herona Hospital Funded by the Paul Foundation

 October 26, 2020

A Short History of Herona Hospital in Uganda

September 28, 2020

Our IMET2000 Representative in Africa, Richard Field has put together this short history of Herona Hospital  on video. IMET2000 and our close friends and partners The Paul Foundation get much praise but we all know that this remarkable achievement in just three years owes all to a chance meeting between Richard and another exceptional man Dr Henry Garvin Mukalazi  back in April2017 and they have worked tirelessly together  ever since to construct a 50 bed hospital offering by far the best service in Mukono District and a population of near 600,000, culminating in recognition as a teaching hospital for all four Faculties of Medicine in Kampala and for nurses and midwives too.

IMET2000 Awarded by Herona Hospital in Uganda for All Support

September 24, 2020

On Sunday, 20^th September, our representative in Uganda Richard Field recently returned to the UK visited our HQ in Bookham and presented Trustee Kathy Green and Colin with plaques and memorabilia from the Director of Herona hospital in Uganda , Dr Mukalazi, and his staff. We accepted these as a big thank you to all in IMET2000.

Further Support for Kaamil Issahaku in Ghana

September 12, 2020

 We are continuing to support the SNAP programme in Lawra, Ghana through the salary of the Project Lead, Kaamil Issahaku. The CEO of her charity Action Through Enterprise (ATE) Sarah Gardner assures me that not only is he totally committed to the young disabled people and their Mums in his care but is expanding the SNAP programme into other neighbouring villages. Setting up a model as exemplar for others to copy or adapt is a policy we share with ATE and want to develop.

ATE Wins Silver Global Good Award

September 12, 2020

Our friends in ATE, the charity carrying out poverty reduction and support of disabled children and their Mums in rural Ghana that IMET2000 is so proud to support is delighted have won a Global Good Award!

We too are so pleased for this well- deserved recognition of their humanitarian activities.

The award is in the category of Community Partnerships, for their innovative BizATE work carried out in partnership with Commercial Education Trust.

BizATE is a small business development training programme which tackles deepening poverty in Lawra Municipality, Ghana where the majority of the population struggle to survive on subsistence farming. It does so by enabling the set-up and growth of small enterprises through training and mentoring to ensure their success in an extremely challenging economic environment. Workshops are tailored to a range of trade groups and designed to work inclusively for small business owners whom mostly have low levels of literacy. Investing in training of local trainers is a key element, enabling local people to facilitate change in their community.

Since 2012, BizATE has supported 99 small businesses with seed grants and essential business skills training, the vast majority of whom struggled to survive on subsistence farming and had no income at all prior to participating in the programme. This work aims to end poverty by enabling entrepreneurs of small enterprises to thrive, to generate income, and increase profits and savings in order to provide for themselves and their families, now and sustainably into the future. This project focuses on developing skills in commercial education, to ensure the businesses have every chance of success.

ATE is excited and proud to have been recognised so publicly for this area of poverty reduction work. To find out more about ATE, or to get involved, see www.ateghana.org. 

Herona Hospital Opens its Fully Accredited HIV Clinic

July 20, 2020

In collaboration with the Makerere Walter Reed project, our new Herona Hospital in Uganda has opened its fully accredited HIV Clinic enabling access to free anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, test kits and a viable CD4 screening system provided by the Ministry of Health. They now have enough ARVs for three months and it is hoped will get salary support for staff working on HIV patients
 

 The Julie Felix Memorial Maternity Unit in Herona Hospital a Huge Success

July 11,2020

The Director of Herona Hospital has sent this report and appreciation for the contributions IMET2000 continues to make, in particular the hard work put in by Trustee Kathy Green and the IMET2000 Representative in Africa, Richard Field. Together with our Ugandan colleagues and tremendous financial support from the Patrick Paul Foundation, they have made all this possible.

Dear Prof,

Warm greetings from  Uganda. On Sunday we compiled our monthly report and realised a huge increase in numbers of patients coming to the hospital with over 250 ultrasound examinations, 78 surgical interventions  (including  22 C-sections) and 68 spontaneous vaginal deliveries in the Julie Felix Memorial Maternity Unit. This increase in numbers has been associated with the fact that the hospital has consistency in service delivery and is fully equipped just like a one-stop-shop. We also noted an increase in the utilisation of antenatal services by pregnant mothers, a clinic that runs every Friday.  The diagnostic laboratory managed to carry out 1,020 tests. The hospital beds are such a blessing for the patients as so much more comfortable.  We now have very few deaths and far less need to refer patients to bigger hospitals Our community and Herona Hospital are so grateful and thankful to IMET2000 especially Kathy Green and Richard Field.

 Henry Garvin Mukalazi (Director)

More Good News From Herona Hospital

 June 11, 2020

 Dr Henry Garvin Mukalazi has sent a very encouraging report from Herona Hospital . In brief the main points of interest are: 

•   It has opened its newly accredited HIV Clinic with free ARV drugs, screening and counselling
•        It has opened a screening point for COVID-19 tests and have just picked up their first UCL-Ventura respirator donated by IMET2000
•     Now fully registered with the Ministry of Health, they are getting free drugs for treating or preventing malaria, thalassaemia or  toxoplasmosis
• The Julie Felix Memorial Maternity Unit is very busy with 55 difficult births successful in 2 weeks including 20 C-Sections
• Two very experienced midwives have been recruited along with another surgeon to cope with the heavy workload
•  The pharmacy is fully stocked for 6 weeks ahead
• The X-ray donated by IMET2000 is being slung from a steel frame and will then be connected to phase 3 electrics (photo of work in progress)

This is all really positive for the future of Herona Hospital, COVID-19 or not and the running costs are just balanced by income.

Our First Twins by C-Section in the Julie Felix Maternity Unit

 May 11, 2020

 The quality of care, safety, low charges  and in-house ability to do C-Sections in our Julie Felix Maternity Unit  is attracting many more women to have their childbirths in Herona Hospital. We are delighted to report our very first set of twins delivered safely by C-Section two days ago.

This C- Section is the  Very First Operation in our New Theatre

April 3, 2020

Even though Uganda is in COVID-19 lockdown , our ladies are still coming to Herona Hospital having problems in childbirth. The successful delivery of this baby by C-section was our first baptism of fire in our brand new surgical suite in Herona Hospital, no doubt the first of many.

Herona Hospital Completed Just in Time Before COVID-19 Lockdown in Uganda

April 3, 2020

IMET2000 is proud to announce that the construction and part equipping of  Herona Hospital was completed on time and nearly within budget just 3 days ago. This is just in time as the Ugandan Government has enforced a complete lockdown in all towns for two weeks in an attempt to contain COVID-19 and any delays would have prevented opening for months possibly longer. The hospital is only dealing with really urgent cases as staff are staying at home in self isolation. If this continues it will clearly impact negatively on income and sustainability but it is more likely that if the number of corona virus patients rises it will get very busy again. To ensure financial viability for April, IMET2000 made a substantial grant from its Emergency Fund today. It is also urgently designing simple inexpensive respirators to deal with breathing compromised patients as well as supporting home-grown cottage industries in Kisoga in making personal protective clothing for healthcare workers.

Herona Hospital Phase 3 Completed and Ready to Equip

March 22,2020

 Construction , flooring, tiling and decoration of Pase 3 of Herona Hospital is now complete. The three main wards will this week have recently donated hospital beds (as arranged by Kathy Green of IMET2000) moved in ready for patients (male, female and children’s separate wards). The main operating theatre has modern plumbing, lighting  and efficient air conditioning. As soon as these are all operational and the wards full of patients, work will start on erecting the Philips X-ray machine in the basement room already prepared for its installation with lead protection.  Soon after that, depending on funding,  IMET 2000 plans to create a modern intensive care unit (ICU) complete with respiratory ventilators  and a high dependency unit in dedicated space already planned. Progress to date has been exceptional and within budget but of course the coronavirus pandemic is bound to affect plans for the future.

Richard Field Returns From Uganda

March 21.2020

 Richard Field returned from Uganda yesterday after three months working in the Ebenezer Kisoboka Childrens Home in Kitosi and in Herona Hospital in Kisoga. He reports great progress in both IMET2000 projects after close  involvement in repair and construction works  and checking on the financial budgeting on the ground. As one of his talents, he has done a lovely mural on the brand new children’s ward in Herona Hospital and a photo is posted. We expect this ward will be opened, occupied and functioning within two weeks.

 Dental Hygiene Outreach Clinics to Three Villages

 March 17, 2020

 Our resident Herona Hospital Dental Surgeon and our IMET2000 representative Richard Field spent all day yesterday in three different villages as one of our weekly outreach programmes. The object was to emphasise the importance of dental hygiene and distribute free toothbrushes donated by our good colleague Mandy Luzar to scores of children. This was another activity funded by IMET 2000. Sadly, because of coronavirus blocks on flights and entry to Uganda,  Mandy was unable to be there herself as planned.

More Equipment Supplied by IMET2000 Arrives Safely

March 4, 2020

 This YouTube is a visual  record of the day that the 40ft container arrived in Herona Hospital packed with equipment for the wards, the eye clinic  and operating theatres newly built in Phase 3. The construction and equipping of Herona Hospital is now virtually complete and any further support from IMET2000 will be for staff recruitment and higher training. The video has not yet been edited for the IMET2000 website and was largely filmed for Ugandan national TV so please skip the long speeches in Lugandan language by the very supportive local MP and the Director of Herona Hospital, Dr Mukalazi (from 11.28 minutes from beginning to 18.04 minutes). Of most obvious interest to our website is that the hospital beds were cleaned, tested and occupied by patients within two days of unloading from the container.

The container once emptied was hoisted onto a concrete plinth already prepared behind the main hospital building and provides essential and permanent hospital storage space. This is another milestone in our IMET2000 programme for upgrading healthcare in Africa.

 Monday Busy as Usual in Herona Hospital

March 1, 2020

 Monday each week is the day when most infant vaccinations are done so it is always busy and often women have to wait their turn outside under sun shades provided. Vaccines are provided by the Ministry of Health and are free to the patients.

 SNAP Manager Kaamil Isshahaku with Disabled Teenager Kwame

February 27, 2020  

The ATE charity in Ghana Manager of the SNAP programme for disabled children, Kaamil Isshahaku, is working with Kwame, a disabled teenager, to get some education and relief for his Mother and to avoid discrimination of such unfortunate young people. We in IMET2000 are proud to support all that this exceptional man Kaamil is achieving in a low income society in north Ghana.

 Letter From Ghana About the SNAP Programme

February 27,2020

 This letter of thanks from the SNAP Project Manager puts in his own words what they are trying to achieve (and succeeding) in one of the poorest areas in Ghana. IMET2000 is delighted to support such a fine man for this year at least.

Hello, Imet 2000,
My name is Kaamil Issahaku and I am the SNAP Project Lead for ATE. I am writing to say thank you, and to tell you some more about myself and my work.
I decided to work with ATE because I have the zeal of supporting children living with special needs, so that they can have access to education, access to healthcare and also that they are free from discrimination.
As part of my role I organise and deliver monthly SNAP meetings in 3 communities, I do these meetings with our 170 SNAP group members in Lawra, Dowine and Jirapa. I involve capacity building of the SNAP Parent Committee Members to ensure that they can be part of the team, contributing to the changes that. 
we are making for the disabled children that we work with. Inspiring them to be leaders in their own communities is important to me.
I carry out reporting, individual casework, as well as outreach and advocacy with stakeholders. This work is all vital to raise the profile of the needs of the children I fight for.
I have, for some time now, been making disabled children smile, putting smiles on their faces by assisting and seeing them into education – when we can assist them to start school it is a wonderful achievement. I make sure all of them can access healthcare services and support parents to reach the social welfare department and in some cases where possible and necessary, to access the officer in charge of The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
Over the next year, I hope to achieve being able to see more of these disabled children into formal
education – that is my priority area. Also making sure that they have their total rights, free from being discriminated against in their society. That is my fight. – reducing stigmatisation drastically, I have the passion for that. I am most passionate about the discrimination aspect. I am making sure that in my community, it is reduced – I am sure we have made a great difference with this.
I wish to say thank you IMET 2000, for giving me this kind of support, so that I am also able to support the less privileged in our society. Thank you very much and GOD bless you!
Yours sincerely,
Kaamil.
Kaamil Issahaku
SNAP Project Lead

Construction of Phase 3 Herona Hospital Nears Completion

February 3, 2020

 Construction of the final Phase Three of Herona Hospital (the ground floor) proceeds apace on schedule and within budget. Windows are completed and installed and  the inner walls and ceiling plastering completed. An epoxy resin floor is now being laid. Air conditioning units are being purchased and installed in most areas of the hospital. Wall tiling and decoration starts next week. We are impressed with the amazing progress made already.

Herona Hospital Ground Floor Roof Nears Completion

December 30, 2019

  Our IMET2000 Official Representative in Africa, Richard Field, flew out to Uganda on the 28^th December, visited the Ebenezer Kisoboka Children’s Home all day yesterday and then spent today with the Director of Herona Hospital , Henry Garvin Mukelazi (see photo). He reports that progress in construction of the Ground Floor (Phase 3) is impressive. In the photos below, you can see that the roof is ready to have cement poured over the whole slab and over 30 labourers are employed to finish this within 2-3 days starting tomorrow Tuesday 31^st December. This will take 5-7 days to set and harden.  During that time windows and casements will be prepared and outer walls completed. Work is on schedule and within budget.

Rapid Progress in Herona Hospital Construction

December 8, 2019

 The Director of Herona Hospital Dr Henry Garvin Mukalazi has sent today this report with images to show how rapidly they are making progress. This has all been made possible by the generous grant from the Paul Foundation to IMET2000 to plan and organise this major health development in a poor area of Uganda. Even though only Phase 1 and Phase 2 have been completed and are operational, it is remarkable that Garvin can report that they have nearly 7000 outpatients dealt with in November alone.

Report: “We are extremely grateful for the continuous  support from IMET2000. Today, we had a meeting with our site engineer. He has started with the wood work for final slab roofing of the ground floor (Phase 3). With the grant of IMET2000 and Mr Paul, we have already purchased thousands of eucalyptus poles and timber necessary for this Phase. We hope to finish all the wood work and setting by 16 th December, 2019; then concreting the entire slab will be finished by 20 th December, 2019. Once the cement has set (in another 5 days) we will install all air conditioning, plumbing and electrical wiring.

The entire community is so expectant in hospital progress and development. In the month of November we served a total of 6789 outpatients, including large numbers of Caesarian sections. Thank you. Henry Garvin.”

Jimmy Banda from Malawi Three Month Report in India

November 30,2019

 Our IMET2000 Scholar studying for an MSc in Clinical Research in Sharda University, India has just sent us his three month report. Not surprisingly he has had quite a difficult time socially as missing his family and surviving financially on a meagre income in a foreign society. He  has settled down and is enjoying the course and is highly motivated to complete and gain a great deal from it to translate to students in Malawi when he returns home. We are pleased to support him.

Latest Progress in Phase 3 Construction of Herona Hospital

November 29, 2019

 Construction of the outer shell of the ground floor of Herona Hospital is now well under way and once completed the roof slab will be built above. At this rate of progress, this will be waterproofed by Christmas and inner walls can then be built inside. In fact, we are a little ahead of schedule and IMET2000 is well pleased with progress. Once this Phase 3 is completed and the container now en route for Uganda arrives full of beds and equipment, Herona Hospital will have all the essential wards and some 40-50 beds to be fully registered with the Ministry of Health in Uganda.

 More Equipment to Herona Hospital in Uganda

November 25, 2019

 Our IMET2000 official representative in Uganda Richard Field and the Director of Herona Hospital Dr Henry Garvin Mukalazi have written kind words to acknowledge the safe gathering, storage and packing for shipment of equipment for their hospital: “A massive thank you and congratulations to IMET2000 Trustee Kathy Green. All the hard work and sleepless nights have paid off. From sourcing, purchase, collecting, engraving and wrapping a huge consignment of equipment followed by filling in forms, making endless phone calls and loading the container (see the pictures), miraculously Kathy has made it all come together. Today, we saw the 40ft container packed up and sent on its way to Uganda. Bon voyage! It is a huge achievement which will change Herona Hospital beyond recognition.”

More About the SNAP Programme in Ghana

November 23, 2019

ATE coordinates monthly support groups in the three villages Lawra Town, Dowine and ESONG Jirapa . These  provide a lifeline for isolated disabled children to socialise and play, and for their parents/caregivers to come together and meet families with shared experiences. Through these SNAP Meetings, ATE provides workshops on health and care, inviting speakers in from other organisations. Adults learn whilst children enjoy interactive activities. We provide a large meal for all who attend, as many have very limited access to food. Monthly SNAP meetings are run by our SNAP Project Leader, Kaamil Issahaku and SNAP Playscheme Coordinator, Ernestina Gan in partnership with a committee of parents of disabled children from the SNAP membership.

Play Scheme

We deliver a twice weekly play scheme in our purpose built Inclusion Centre in the centre of Lawra. This beautiful space, full of light, colour and wonderful resources, is the perfect location for us to provide educational play activities for our disabled children. Our super SNAP Play Scheme Coordinator, Ernestina, is supported to deliver this programme by a group of disability specialist and teachers in the UK. Together, they plan interactive, fun and educational play for children who travel long distances to join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week.  The two hour session helps the children to develop social skills, basic literacy and numeracy, and to enjoy learning. Parents (almost 100% mothers and grandmothers) are encouraged to join in with their children, or to relax and enjoy a cup of tea whilst chatting to other parents in similar situations – this has a profound effect reducing the isolation and loneliness which is so common amongst these heroic women.

Case Work 

ATE takes on significant case work in the areas of medical care, access to education and access to social welfare.  We work on an individual basis with families to ensure they are able to access all government services that are available. Kaamil Issahaku, SNAP Project Lead is an experienced ex-civil servant with excellent understanding of government processes. Kaamil uses his knowledge and respected position in the community to fight for the rights of the disabled children we work with. He works with parents to enroll children in mainstream and special schools, facilitates access to specialist medical assessment and equipment and makes sure they receive medical care when unwell, and works with families to access financial support available from the government.

IMET2000 Support for Salary of Kaamil Issahaku in Ghana

November 21, 2019

IMET2000 is continuing and increasing its support for the wonderful work our affiliated charity ATE does in Ghana with seriously disabled children (Special Needs Awareness Programme or SNAP). We are now committed to pay the salary for a whole year for Kaamil Issahaku. The CEO of ATE, Sarah Gardner, has sent this brief bio of this man. ‘Kaamil Issahaku is a dynamic, young and energetic man from a renowned Muslim family in the Lawra community of Zongo. He has worked at the office of the Lawra Municipal Assembly for the past 10 years as a Community Information Centre Manager. Having worked in collaboration with the Municipal Social Welfare and Community Development Office and having been in frequent contact with people living with disabilities, Kaamil was moved to become an advocate for people living with disabilities. When he saw the role of SNAP Project Lead being advertised he decided to apply so that he could contribute to the development of SNAP and ATE’s work, so that ‘together we can put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable in our society’ and grant them their rights free from discrimination. Kaamil is now our Senior Manager in Lawra. As well as leading our SNAP work, he is responsible for senior administration and has many line management responsibilities.’

Richard Field Officially Appointed IMET2000 Representative in Uganda

October 27, 2019

  After working in Uganda for over seven years in the Ebenezer Kisoboko Children’s Home and since 2017 helping IMET2000 start the Herona Hospital project as our Field Officer in Uganda on a voluntary basis, the Executive Committee has invited him to be the official IMET2000 Representative in Uganda on a consultancy basis. Richard has accepted happily. Our Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee are delighted to have somebody so devoted to these two important programmes in Uganda at the helm and able to spend precious time out there to ensure our projects are working well. He is also responsible as Safeguarding Officer that our many children are fully protected. We are also delighted that Richard has recruited Dick (Richard Lubowa) to run the EK Home and the Triumph programme (in both of which IMET2000 has invested substantially) and also work as the local Safeguarding Officer for both EK and Triumph. In one photo taken in February 2019, bearded  Richard is shown with Kathy Green, Colin Green  and Aunt (who acts as a wonderful cook and mother figure for the 21 children in the Home). In the other is Dick who is committed and dedicated to the children too and runs the Home very well for us.

 Visit of Patrick and Nina Paul to Herona Hospital

October 24, 2019  

 On October 17 th, Patrick and Nina Paul who widely and generously support our work in Africa flew out to Uganda to visit Herona Hospital and the Ebenezer Kisoboka Childrens Home in both of which they have a major interest. They were met at the airport by our Field Officer Richard Field and the Director of Herona hospital, Dr Garvin Mukalazi and driven to Mukono District and their hotel. They then had two very intensively programmed days including visits to the Hospital and to the Home as well as driving in the ambulance and visiting a village for one of our outreach clinics. Richard reports back that they were really impressed by progress and the fact that so many patients are now coming through the doors for treatment (near 5000 per month). Patrick now wants to meet Colin Green in London when they return from Uganda to plan a future strategy and address the issue of long-term sustainability of both enterprises. All agreed that this was a very successful visit.

 Some Villages We Reach Out to Are Desperately Poor

October 8, 2019

The ambulance that IMET2000 purchased earlier this year from Japan is absolutely essential in our outreach programme to distant villages many of which are desperately poor. It is in constant use and so far running well often across rough tracks and lanes. The images here show you a very poor village in a lovely lakeside setting. All the treatments we offer are entirely free and the only health provision they have.  

Message From Jimmy Banda in India

August 30,2019 

My name is Jimmy Banda from Malawi and I am a registered student of an  MSc degree in the  Clinical Research programme at Sharda University, New Delhi, India. Currently I am in my first semester of a two year programme.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Colin and IMET2000 for selecting me as the recipient of the prestigious scholarship award towards my education.I feel very lucky and blessed to have been chosen by IMET2000 for this great honour.

I was raised in an extremely cash strapped low- class family of seven children and in a typical rural village. Although my parents have always emotionally supported my education dreams they can not help me pay for my university.But because of IMET2000 generosity my heavy financial load has been lightened. When I received the IMET 2000 Scholarship in the mail,I literally sat for a good thirty minutes with tears of joy. I could not believe that it was  happening to me after so much hardship.

To me education is very important because I will be equipped with the power to make better decisions and improve the degree of citizen participation in affairs concerning my country Malawi.Upon completion of my MSc in Clinical Research at Sharda University ,I am very optimistic that I will have the potential to address many challenges that affect people of Malawi such as poverty,HIV and AIDS, malaria and food insecurity just to mention a few, as I will be able to work with the Government of Malawi to study individual and community behaviour and bring this together with basic biology in order to plan appropriate interventions that improve health. I will also be able to transfer research findings to policies  leading to improved health of  people in  Malawi.

I would like to be a  clinical researcher who will make a significant difference for patients and contribute to regional and national wide studies of underlying health issues.I would like to survey Malawian Communities and investigate ongoing trends in medical treatments and provide critical answers to medical concerns ,giving peace of mind to patients and family members.

I believe  a systematic education at Sharda University will be vital for my future career as a clinical researcher in that it will allow me to incorporate India research and Malawi realities.I will be able to perform some creative work in reforming Malawi’s existing research system and make it serve a greater multitude of people.

I deem my study at Sharda University as a very meaningful part of my career trajectory  and thank you Professor Colins and IMET2000 for making it possible through the scholarship and please do not down play the difference you have made . It means more than I can say. Jimmy

 Visual Impairment Mission from Italy

August 19,2019

Herona Hospital was fortunate to have Dr Duccio and his team of optometrists from Vagnini in Florence visit and work in the new Eye Clinic over  last weekend in one of our ‘Eye  Camps’  They screened over 300 patients. After testing they gave out reading spectacles  to those who needed them and sent off prescriptions for others; their glasses are already being made and will be provided  free of charge. Many patients were found to have cataracts and glaucoma. We are planning a free cataract operation camp when all the operating theatre equipment arrives in October. Herona Hospital would like to extend a big thank you to Dr Duccio and his time.

Herona Hospital Departmental Report for July, 2019

August 1, 2019

Herona Hospitals Departmental Report for July 2019 demonstrates the incredible increase in patients coming through the door each month (near to 5000) and the variety of services being offered. Radiology/scan. =158  scans performed Laboratory worked on 658 patients, 289 were tested for HIV all those who were positive are counselled and treated with free ARVs General outpatients received = 4689 patients Eye clinic =321 of whom  189 had allergic conjunctivitis, squint = 1, photophobia 28, refractive error 17, cataract 41 and normal. 40 Referrals in= 214 Referrals out=32 (referred for X-ray and CT scan) After final meetings with Government MoH officials, the team are delighted to announce that HHL has been officially approved and will be supplied with free anti-retroviral drugs in the near future.Construction of the mortuary and incinerator is nearly complete, plastering is finished and the tiling has commenced.

Visual Impairment Outreach Clinic in Local  School

July 23, 2019

As an extension of our new Eye Clinic and campaign to upgrade the service in visual impairment, Herona Hospital are stepping up the number of outreach clinics and concentrating more effort on assessing schoolchildren and treating them early enough to prevent deterioration.

 IMET 2000 Travel Bursary Award

July 20, 2019

Dr Jimmy Banda who is a physician in Malawi has been awarded a scholarship by Sharda University School of Medicine to study in India for two years leading to an MSc in Clinical Research . Jimmy and his family are making a huge financial sacrifice to  enable him to take up this offer. They are selling their own house and his wife and children are moving in with elderly parents whilst he is away in India. IMET has agreed to award him a travel bursary and scholarship of $3000 per year as we trust him to return with skills much needed in Malawi.  We expect he will not only provide a much improved clinical service but take up an academic post in the School  of Medicine in Blantyre and hence provide added value for students.

Children From the Local Blind School to Herona Eye Clinic

July 6, 2019

Children from the Kisoga Blind School now under the regular care of the Herona Hospital Eye Clinic checking in for examination and treatment of preventable blindness from conditions such as trachoma and onchocerciasis. This service is provided absolutely free.

 Free Cervical Cancer Vaccination: Important School Visit

July 5, 2019

Cancer of the cervix (Ca Cx) is the most common gynaecological malignancy among women in Uganda contributing about 80% of all female malignancies. The incidence rate is 40:100 000. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females in Uganda. Unfortunately, 80% of the patients present late and this makes treatment outcomes unsatisfactory. Most patients can only be treated with palliative care. With support from the government we carried out free immunisation of girls between 8 – 10 yrs against cervical cancer.

This vaccination provides lifetime protection against human papilloma virus responsible for causing cancer of the cervix.

This is why Herona Hospital Health Camp Clinics are vitally important.

Brun Bear Foundation Grant

June 25, 2019

We are grateful to the Brun Bear Foundation for a generous grant of £1000 toward a brand new infant incubator. This is a much needed addition to our maternal and baby health programmes.

Free Health Days 

June 20,  2019

Herona Hospital have linked with remote village leaders and school head teachers to organise ‘health days’.On these health days, social workers and health practitioners travel to remote areas as far away as 50 km and provide free services including:

• HIV testing and counselling
• Eye tests
• Dental examinations and extractions
• Reproductive health
• Vaccinations
• Prenatal care and counselling.

The ambulance is proving absolutely invaluable for the outreach clinics and school visits.

Our Clinics Reach the Remote Villages

May 24, 2019

Outreach clinic for family planning and maternity health education. Our IMET funded ambulance is absolutely vital to the success of our outreach programme in which we sometimes drive over 50 km to a remote village which otherwise has no access to any health care.

Outreach Clinics Provides many Services for Residents

May 16, 2019

Outreach clinic in MPATTA: the latest outreach clinic was held in Mpatta. The PA system on the ambulance was able to alert people about the clinic well before arrival and described the services offered including free eye tests, free HIV testing and among many other tests and treatments. The service also now includes screening men over 40 for enlarged prostate. The three images provide some idea of the working conditions in these remote and economically challenged rural villages.

Phase 2 Basement Surgical Suite

May 16, 2019

 We are delighted that the whole of the Phase 2 basement area construction is complete and both the Eye Clinic and the Surgical Operating Suite have been opened. As the latter  is the only one in the area, we are delighted to report some very important work last week .

People from Ntenjeru Sub County and surrounding villages with breast adenomas, inguinal scrotal hernia, lipomas and other surgical conditions all  had free treatment   conducted by a team of Ugandan and visiting USA  surgeons.  All these operations were successful; the  patients are fine with no post- operative complications. The entire community is grateful. The USA team were impressed by the facilities in the operating theatre and surprised we had at IMET expense built in air conditioning. They also expressed how impressed they were by the quality of our theatre nursing staff. At the end of their stay they indicated they would like to return as soon as in three months.

We hope they will be back to carry on the great work.

Eye Clinic at Herona Hospital

May 14, 2019

The first patients were admitted to the Eye Clinic on the 12th May, 2019 and in this photograph you can see a patient being examined through our slit-lamp. In other images you can see our new dedicated ophthalmic surgery theatre ready for the first patients at the end of July,2019 once equipment already being shipped from the UK has arrived. The fitting room has hundreds of spectacles already being supplied on a fitting trial and error basis. All of this will be upgraded in the next four months.

Herona Hospital Construction

May, 2019

Our man in Uganda Richard Field has put together an up to date series of images on You Tube showing the construction from April 2017 of the Herona Hospital project with the financial support of IMET2000.

Please click on to the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gkrhuGn6K0 to follow this important piece of our history as a global charity. Garvin and Richard have planned this together so carefully with much support from Ugandan colleagues and input from their hospital staff.

Ambulance Working Through Extreme Conditions

May 12, 2019

Getting to remote villages is not always easy for our outreach clinics. Our ambulance is well able to cope with muddy and rough murram roads, lanes and in some cases paths to their destination as it has 4-wheel drive. It has already paid for its cost in lives saved (10 serious cases of road accidents per week on average). Another case of childbirth emergency was reported only last week. A pregnant woman from Katosi was given a scan on arrival at Herona Hospital. The pregnancy was 27 weeks but the scan showed a premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) . She explained she had already lost 3 babies to the same condition. Although we do have an incubator at HHL it was decided the baby would have a higher chance of survival at a larger city hospital with larger neo-natal unit. So she was taken with a midwife in the ambulance. On the way the mother pushed and the birth started. Luckily the ambulance is well equipped and has plenty of the room. The birth was carried out successfully and mother and baby are doing fine. Everyone could not be happier.

Successful Delivery of a Healthy Baby

April 28,  2019 A

caesarean section and successful delivery of a healthy baby in our small maternity theatre. We are much looking forward to greatly improved conditions when the new surgical suite opens in May in the Phase 2 basement.

 Vaccination Programme Improving

April 20, 2019

Mothers waiting with babies for vaccination: the take-up on our vaccination programmes is improving significantly month by month through our publicity and outreach clinics.

The Phase 2 Basement at Herona Hospital

April 20, 2019

The Phase 2 basement construction and decoration is nearly complete and now needs to be equipped to modern standards. It will accommodate the Eye Clinic, a modern Surgical Operating Theatre Suite, a 10 bed High Dependency Ward, a modern X-Ray Suite complete with Philips X-Ray Machine and a large storage space.

Paul Bockett-Pugh is Fundraising for IMET2000 Activities in Africa

April 10, 2019

Paul Bockett-Pugh, a keen supporter of IMET’s work overseas , is running in the Paris 26 mile Marathon on Sunday 14^th April and all sponsorship proceeds will go to our IMET Eye Clinic project in Uganda (https://www.herona.org).

For more information and if you wish to make a donation towards this cause please follow the link to Paul’s Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-bockett-pugh1

The First Day of Service for the Ambulance of  Herona Hospital

March 30, 2019

The first day of service for the ambulance proved crucial. A 65 year old man was attacked by robbers and stabbed in the lungs. He was bought to Herona Hospital where they treated him but his condition grew worse and after a scan it was discovered he had intra-abdominal bleeding and needed to be referred. At this point it would usually take around 4 hours to raise an ambulance and get to a Kampala hospital; the ambulances often carry no medical equipment and the patient would have probably died on the way. With our ambulance at the ready, fully equipped with oxygen and life support fluids, the patient was rushed to Kampala where he was successfully treated. Herona Hospital is so grateful to everyone who made this possible.

A MoH Delegation Visited our Hospital

March 13, 2019

We were very pleased to receive visitor’s from the Government last week. The visitors from the Ministry of Health were led by Dr Joseph Okware, who represented the Permanent Secretary. He was joined by the Mukono District Health Officer, Dr Elly Tumushabe, her Deputy, Mr Dumba Isaac, as well as senior officials in the local Health Sector, Mrs Musenero Samalie and Hon Lukyamuzi. Everyone was very impressed with the facility and the plans for the future. We have enjoyed excellent support and advice from all these friends in Mukono District and hope to have close links and support in future projects backed by the national Government.

Richard Introduction Party in Uganda

February 16, 2019

Our Man in Uganda has been engaged to Peace for some years and they have decided to get married. This is wonderful news. Peace is so supportive of all our IMET2000 work in Uganda and helps Richard get things done both in the Ebenezer Children’s Home and in Herona Hospital.

On Saturday 16th February they had a big celebration party known there as The Introduction and is what we would call an Engagement Party.

All of us in IMET2000 congratulate them on their joining together and wish them every happiness.

Hepatitis B Awareness Project in Companies

January 20,  2019

Herona Hospital has started a hepatitis B awareness project in schools, churches and companies as a method of primary prevention of hepatitis B. Garvin has been very busy giving awareness talks about hepatitis b and its long term effects on health. More than 2 billion people worldwide are estimated to have had hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and 350 million chronic carriers of the virus are at high risk of cirrhosis of the liver and primary liver cancer. HBV accounts for an estimated 500,000–700,000 annual deaths worldwide. It is a big problem in Uganda.

Programme to Defeat the TB Epidemic in Uganda

November 20, 2018

Herona Hospital is proud to now be a part of USAID Defeat TB, a 5 year project between 2017-2022 and linking different selected hospitals to Makerere University Medical School. The aim is to end the TB epidemic in Uganda by:

•  Increasing screening and detection of all forms of TB
• Initiating complete treatments for all patients diagnosed with all forms of TB
• Ensuring strong community systems to support the continuum of TB prevention, screening, diagnosis, care and treatment

Enhancing leadership and technical capacity of the TB program at national and sub national levels to effectively guide and manage implementation of TB control activities. Herona Hospital would like to thank Mukono District Health Officer Dr Tumushabe Elly for linking us to this project.

Vaccines have been Provided for Babies at Herona Hospital

November 18, 2018

Through the Uganda Ministry of Health, Herona Hospital has been provided with vaccines and a dedicated refrigerator so that mothers will be able to have their babies vaccinated at regular intervals instead of waiting a full month as was the case previously. This has all come about with the help of the District Health Officer Dr Tumushabe Elly and Assistant District Health Officer, Mr Dumba Issac who is also officer in charge of child and maternal health. Herona Hospital would also like to thank Mr Sserunjoji district cold chain officer in charge of immunisation, who trained staff on how to handle the vaccines. All vaccines are provided by the government and are FREE. Efficient immunisation against a whole range of diseases including a programme for girls of 12-16 to prevent cervical cancer lays the foundations of all preventive medicine. This is one of the most important aims of our outreach clinics; spread the word to ensure a high % take-up.

Blood Bank at Herona Hospital, Uganda

October 21, 2018

Herona Hospital staff are pleased to announce that after an inspection by the quality assistance officers from the Uganda National Transfusion Services, they are now stocking blood. This is hugely important to the area as getting blood up until now has meant long expensive journeys to Kampala. Everyone’s very excited for the ability to offer this new service.

The King’s Visit to Herona Hospital

October 7, 2018

Ronald Muwenda Mutebi Il, Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda came to visit Herona Hospital on October 7th. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work and the biggest day yet for the hospital and everyone involved. As well as meeting the staff and patients at the hospital the king planted a tree and laid the foundation stone for the brand new eye clinic. Crowds gathered to see the king and TV stations from all over Uganda were present.

London to Brighton Cycle Ride

September 16, 2018

Kathy Green and Dan Morris triumphant at the end of their cycle ride from London to Brighton. They completed in 5 hours. With 93 generous donors they exceeded their target and raised over £8000 toward the much needed ambulance in Herona Hospital.

Progress on the Phase Two Building

September 16, 2018

Really strong foundations are now being built with IMET2000 financial support so that in Phase Two construction two stories can be built up if financial resources allow. These will cost at most £18,000.

Herona Hospital Pharmacy

September 9, 2018

IMET2000 funded the pharmacy to be completely stocked for a month supply at a cost of £5000. We were assured that the profit on sales would not only allow complete re-stocking each month but would help fund the staff salaries too. This has indeed proved to be the case.

Herona Eyecare Clinic

August 5, 2018

The present Eye Clinic is very basic and modestly equipped but provides a limited service to the region and a population of some 200,000 people. IMET2000 is raising funds urgently to build a state of the art Eye Clinic and open for a full service by March 2019.

Car Park for Herona Hospital

July 3, 2018

In the wet season, the front of the hospital was a mudbath so IMET2000 spent £5000 to create a decent tarmac car park and approach as shown in this latest photo.

Eschmann J3 Surgical Operating Table

June 19, 2018

This Eschmann J3 surgical operating table has been donated by a kind anonymous donor and has been shipped to Herona Hospital in Uganda.

The First premature Baby in the Incubator

April 28, 2018

This is the very first premature baby in the incubator that Kathy Green funded and provided a few weeks ago.

The Opening Ceremony of Herona Hospital

February 17, 2017

On February 17 th, Colin Green and his community nurse daughter Kathy joined in the celebrations to officially open Phase One of the new Rural Hospital, Herona Hospital, largely built with IMET2000 funding since May, 2017. Just 20 out of the planned 40 beds in a woman’s ward have been completed and are full with patients. This is a private not-for-profit hospital serving a population of roughly 300,000 people in a rural community in Kisoga town, Mukono District, and now needs new equipment and more fully qualified staff. The photo shows Colin cutting the tape for the official opening. Over 1000 people including MPs and local dignitaries attended and joined in a very happy celebration. IMET 2000 is now raising funds for the equipment and medicines and ensure future viability. Richard Field flew out to Uganda at the end of December and amongst all the projects he had to deal with since, he has organised a full-time job in dressmaking for Harriet and is about to build her a small home where she can live independently with dignity and privacy as a severely handicapped person. IMET2000 goes on supporting needy individuals as well as funding major projects like the Herona Hospital soon to be opened by Colin Green in Uganda on the 17th February. What a privilege!

Herona Hospital Latest Updates

2017

IMET2000 is delighted with rapid progress in construction of the Herona Hospital with our financial support but at amazingly low cost. We expect the first patients to come through the doors in mid-September. Now we have to equip it and are writing grant applications and fundraising for that. Eventually it will have 40 beds and serve a population of some 200,000 in a region with massive problems with malaria, infant/maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8B5gPnyGL0&feature=youtu.be IMET2000 has just awarded a grant of £7000 from its ring-fenced Uganda account to pay for the roof of part of the new hospital in Herona we are helping build. In one photo you can see the unroofed part of the hospital as work in progress and in the other the new roof under construction. The sooner this roof gets completed, the sooner the inner walls and brickwork will be protected from the heavy rains now hitting the area.

A Merry Update from Ghana

2017

Our IMET2000 ‘Lady in Ghana’ Sarah Gardner has just returned from Ghana after getting married to her great friend Habib Albeboure who manages her charity ATE in Lawra in Upper Ghana. We are all delighted for them both and congratulate them on this wonderful event. Colin has known Sarah since she was two years old and now she is Mrs Albeboure!

Herona Updates

April 2017

Our Uganda representative Richard Field returned last week after nearly three months of field work and has come back with an exciting set of pioneering ideas to add to those already supported by IMET2000 over the past three years. The Ebenezer Kisoboka Children’s Home is in good shape building wise and no new buildings are planned. Four new children have been transferred from another home on an island in Lake Victoria and the numbers in EK are up to 20 with ages ranging from 5 to 20 years. Richard has found sponsors for nearly all these children and about £1000 are transferred to the UORF stakeholders and Trustees by IMET2000 every 4 months. The solar panels and bio-digester are working well and Harriet is making good progress in her needlework training classes. Admittance to the EK Children’s Home is now carefully controlled and if children in need can be funded to stay at home with family yet still attend school then we help fund that option instead. Richard is now keen to expand that micro-environment into a regional framework in which better schools, a health clinic on land already purchased, and a non-Governmental hospital will be built and supported by his efforts and part aided by IMET2000. In time we hope to train some of our EK children in nursing and other health care disciplines and purchase an ambulance to service both the clinic and hospital . Attached are images of the hospital under construction. IMET2000 is committed to part fund the roof and wall plastering of the next phase and hope to complete that within 6 weeks. We are urgently raising funds to pay for this ambitious programme.

Harriet and the Sewing Machine

January 12, 2017

Although severely disabled, Harriet sets a wonderful example to the younger children in the Ebenezer Home by her happy personality and determination to succeed in her dressmaking programme. She is taking more advanced lessons and IMET2000 provide the materials she needs to develop her skills.

Our Man Richard Field is Back in Uganda

February 10, 2017

Richard Field went back to Uganda a week ago to find the Children’s Home in really good shape. Unfortunately, Uganda is suffering a severe drought this year, and the rainy seasons never came. Everyone’s gardens has suffered including ours. All the work preparing the ground and planting have come to nothing. What has grown is being used as cow feed (photo). To make matters worse food is becoming expensive. On the upside the rainwater harvesting tanks we installed last year have collected what rain we had and we still have 15,000 litres in our tanks. We hope it rains soon for everyone’s sake . The new children have settled in well and are very happy in the home (photo).

New Children at Ebenezer Kiboko

January 10, 2016

Our ‘Man in Uganda’, Richard Field and everyone at the Ebenezer Kiboko Children’s Home are very excited about the arrival of three new children. They were selected by our local Ugandan internal board and arrived this week. We are in the process of getting them new bedding, anti-mosquito nets and clothes. They have been enrolled into school and are very happy to be at EK. We have also sent more clothes for the other children and staff. In the photos, Ronald is shown in grumpy mode and then one happy boy!

Return of Richard Field from Uganda

March 16, 2016

Our Man in Uganda, Richard Field, has just got back to the UK after working in the Ebenezer Children’s Home for three months. Whilst there he carried out more restoration work on the buildings and discussed with senior staff in the home new ways of functioning in the future and expanding the Home not just with more young children but as a respite centre for other children with disabilities currently with one or both parents struggling financially. He also formulated plans for building homes on the 4 acres nearby that he purchased with his own money and eventually constructing a building for a health clinic to serve the local villages. In fact he has come back full of ideas for a new project to run alongside the residential home in which children will be kept at home in their own community but helped in education, school uniforms, books , mosquito nets and other necessities ….in other words the Ebenezer Home will be a kind of hub to many more children outreached and they will interact but not necessarily spend time in residence. IMET2000 is keen to support this experiment in psychosocial development for very poor families and develop the health centre.

Sarah Gardner News from Ghana

January 12, 2016

Our colleague Sarah Gardner who is CEO of the charity ‘Action Through Enterprise’ (ATE) has just completed a six week working visit to Lawra in Upper Ghana and has sent us this video clip of the special needs programme that IMET2000 is part supporting. Sarah’s Mother, Philippa Gardner, who was an NHS Consultant Psychotherapist specialising in Cognitive Analytic Therapy for the Wessex region joined her for part of this tour of duty in Ghana and we in IMET2000 look forward to tapping in to her vast experience of child and adolescent mental health problems resulting from extreme economic deprivation to help us in our programmes in Africa and Palestine. The video can be accessed via the following link: (as below). We applaud the SNAP programme as yet another successful way of challenging prejudice and taboos against all forms of physical and mental disability and trauma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZh2a9ThDcw

Ebenezer Home Solar Panels

September, 2015

Our IMET2000 ‘Man in Uganda’ Richard Field has just returned from a three month working stay in the Ebenezer Home near Kisoto. Richard really is a remarkable man and goes out there to work entirely at his own expense and achieves so much on each visit. We reported earlier on the safari they went on right at the start of his stay and what he has achieved in the last few weeks since then is really impressive. With our mission to make the home a self-sufficient and self-sustaining social unit, IMET2000 sponsored solar panels which are now fully operational and provide adequate lighting for the children to do their homework as well as light up the whole community. In addition, Richard purchased 4 acres of good productive land at his own expense so that 2 cows and garden produce can provide a decent basic diet for the children. The new cow he bought on arrival is milking well. He built a new and substantial ‘cow house’ as well as a workroom where tools can be kept and shoes made for sale in the local village.

Ebenezer Orphanage Safari Trip

July, 2015

These young people in the Ebenezer orphanage had never been outside their village so this safari into Queen Elizabeth National Game park was their first journey across Uganda. They were so excited. And although Uganda still has plenty of wild animals in its National Parks, these people had never ever seen one in their lives. So again it was a huge experience for them to see lions, hippopotamus, baboons, elephants, zebras, giraffes and many kinds of antelope. They said on return home that it was the best three days of their life. IMET2000 is so keen to support this mini-society as it caters for an age range of 6 up to 18, helps them become self- supporting within the home and then maintains contact when they leave the orphanage by finding work locally and providing microfinance to help them start up small businesses and shops in the nearby town. They are lovely people and a joy to be with.

2014 IMET2000 Grants & Donations for Africa

Uganda, January, 2014

A grant of £4000 has been made by IMET2000 to the Uganda Biogas Project in which we are helping an orphanage called Ebenezer Kisoboko near Lake Victoria in Uganda. A friend called Richard Field has taken it on as a project to make it as near self sufficient as possible with a home made biogas reactor, solar powered lighting, horticulture, livestock and micro-financed craft businesses . Disease prevention (particularly personal hygiene and anti-malaria netting) is a major feature of the project. Our aim is to ensure the children have better lighting to do their homework, have a gas supply (methane from the biodigester) for cooking and a more balanced diet to improve their health. The success of this project we anticipate will lead to it being used as a model throughout Uganda for similar sized social units of young people. Two of our orphans now hope to become healthcare professionals and need sponsorship for the future. Information is available from dickfield@hotmail.co.uk.

2014 IMET2000 Grants & Donations for Africa

Ghana, January, 2014

A grant of £4000 has been made by IMET2000 to the UK based charity Action Through Enterprise (ATE) to help our colleague and CEO of ATE, Sarah Gardner, working out the in the poorest area of Ghana to fund a project for disabled and handicapped children as well as run schemes to improve the health and nutrition of children in a desperately poor community. Sarah and her parents run this small charity on a shoestring but achieve amazing results with the children. IMET2000 is delighted to help such a dedicated person as Sarah to make such an impact on the overall health of a small village and create a model of health and education which can be wheeled out across the region. For more information see their website www.ateghana.org.