Rapha Hospital was constucted to provide accessible medical services for the Gomba Mpigi district. Services includes ante-natal, HIV / AIDS, malaria, parasitology, dental, ENT, basic laboratory analysis, dispensary, nursing facilities and community health education services.
The first phase of the project was an outpatients clinic, which opened in June 2001 under the guidance of Doctor Felix and Nurse Marion. The second phase of the project,opened in October 2003, included an extension of the wards and martnity care. Thanks to a container of hospital beds and medical equipment the hospital was well equipped.
The third phase is underway but funding is still required for its completion. This will include the building of staff quarters, a Doctor's house, perimeter fence, and tap water from the well. The cost for this will be in the region of £40,000 / 60,000.
Fiona Ross
Fiona Ross left Scotland to champion the community-based healthcare work at Rapha Clinic, in the Mpigi district of Uganda. Fiona is an experienced community nurse having experience not only in Scotland but Uganda itself. Fiona has managed to help forge a strong link between the local community and health authorities. The work at Rapha is focused on mother and child health, HIV counselling and testing. Initially, Fiona's work took place under a tree and 181 people were seen. Since that first clinic, there have been numerous clinics held either in the open air or in local churches/buildings. Antenatal clinics, immunisations and registration for the HIV programme tis performed. There are many challenges faced by the staff because the need is overwhelming at times - malnutrition, extreme poverty, ignorance and neglect of health problems, STD's, HIV and AIDS. However Fiona and her assistant Sarah (a Ugandan Registered Nurse, who came from the Mpigi district originally) are working tirelessly to help the people overcome their difficulties and encourage them to access the health care on offer. Why not read Fiona's Update on Rapha?
