Health & Medicine
1. Measles Outbreak- has taken the lives of a number of children in the area, as well as flooded the doors to the Nyahuka Health Center, putting strain on the clinicians as well as staff there
2. Malaria Count is high due to rainy season, also adding strain to already short-staffed workers
3. Probable Cholera Outbreak-causing a dysentery-like illness that is also wreaking havoc amongst an already malnourished/dehydrated population
4. The "usual" pneumonia, sickle-cell crises, diarrhea, malnutrition, etc. is acutely worse due to a number of factors, namely a poor economy and low food production, which tips the scales for those who are already borderline starving and at risk of contracting illnesses due to a weakened immune system. Additionally, government funding has not reached the Nyahuka Health Center (NHC) in over 3 months, so things like blood transfusions (the main treatment for sickle-cell crises) goes to the wayside and mortality rates increase.
5. Praise God for the tireless efforts of the workers at the health center. They are very short-staffed (sometimes 1-2 nurses for 30+ patients during the day, and 0-1 nurse overnight) and government money often times does not make it to the health center or workers, which does not do much for encouraging morale and encouraging people to show up to work! Pray that God would give all those who work there a desire to press on amidst the difficult times, a willingness to work together as a team, and that His Grace would be sufficient to meet all their needs.
Community
1. Waterline Issues- the main waterline that pipes clean water to Nyahuka has long been under strain due to the population boom of the area in the last decade. If I've got my facts straight, it was initially put in to service a population of 10,000. There now is a population of 30,000 due to the surge of people that have crossed the border from the nearby DRC in the last 10 yrs.
2. The Road- currently there is a road being paved through Bundibugyo and all the way through to the DRC. This is fabulous and will hopefully bring much-needed economic growth to the area! However, it will completely take out the waterline, leaving the only source of clean water compromised for at least 6 months. This is an issue because then people will be returning to the river for their water, which means an even greater influx of water-borne illnesses cropping up in the area.
I really hope I don't have to travel this road again!
4. Praise God for the work that is taking place between Josh (our team's water engineer) and local government officials and water technicians to come up with a solution to the issues surrounding the provision of a clean water source to the community. Please pray for clear communication, motivation on the Ugandan partnership side to take responsibility for sustaining this source, and wisdom for our WHM team to know their level of involvement in helping to provide this necessary commodity for the community.
The Water Guys
5. Christ School Bundibugyo- has soared by leaps & bounds in their academic achievements the last couple of years. While their has been much transition amongst leadership and staff, this proves to have been a good thing as the school is obviously excelling under the direction of Isingoma Edward, who took over head mastership in 2011. Additionally, both boys and girls soccer teams made it to nationals this year (an unheard of precedent for Bundibugyo District!!), which has helped to boost morale incredibly. While CSB is in the top 12% for O-level secondary schools in the country, they are unfortunately facing steep financial challenges that threaten to close the doors of the school next year. Michael & Lesley Stevens are our teammates working alongside Ugandan leadership at CSB. You can read more specifically about the needs of the school here and here.
6. BundiNutrtition Program- This is a program that was started years ago, and put on "the back burner" when the team size dwindled several years ago. Thankfully, it is being refueled by 2 of our WHM teammates and some Ugandan counterparts. They have started assessing high-risk babies and children on an outpatient basis and counseling their parents on how to provide better nutrition and preventative measures for them so that they do not end up in the health center being treated for malnutrition or a co-morbid condition that could threaten their life. Hopefully this will help decrease the swelling numbers they currently have at the NHC. Praise God that Bundibugyo had their first Health Fair recently and that we were able to be represented at a booth to provide some basic nutritional education to a large number of people!
Spiritual Development
1. Many of the tribal religious beliefs continue to affect the health and well-being of citizens in Bundibugyo District. The ramifications of this are often seen in the health clinic, but are also seen in other areas as well, as noted above in the recent tribal conflict.
2. Pastors in the area met last week in Easter Uganda for the national General Assembly.
3. Mt. Zion is a new "inner-city" church in the downtown metropolis of Nyahuka Town. Started by Ugandans, lead by Ugandans, our teammate Chrissy has been attending this church and reports that good things are happening there! I think the size is still very small, but the Good News of God's grace for all people seems to really be making an impact in the area.
a local bar near Mt. Zion (photo credit-Chrissy)
primary school being held at Mt. Zion (photo credit- Chrissy)
4. We have new team mates joining the team around the same time we will be next year! The Rees's will be joining the team, and Kevin (a pastor) will be assisting in ministerial training of local pastors and eventually maybe the establishment of a theological training institute in the area. This is a much-needed area of growth for the community, the local church, and our team!
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