I’m excited to say that I’ve booked my next trip back to Uganda! It’s almost a year since I last visited, and I’ve been missing the place and the people greatly. The biggest problem has been fitting in holidays around my UK work – not helped by changing jobs at the beginning of August. But the flights have been booked, and I’m going at the end of September for two weeks.
There are three main reasons for this visit. Firstly, and most importantly, I’m going to visit all my Ugandan and Ex-pat friends. Mark, Maureen, Emma, and several others have been faithfully texting me throughout the year, so I need to catch up with them properly. They’ve all moved on from Kiwoko Hospital to other parts of the country (hopefully only temporarily) so I’ll need to travel a bit while I’m there. Others are still at Kiwoko, such as Debbie, Becky, Dr Peter, Dr James, and my Northern Irish friends Rory and Ken plus their families. Long-distance friendships are all very well, but its great to meet in person!
The second reason I try to visit regularly is the hospital work. Its good to contribute to the daily running of the hospital, and I usually end up working quite hard while I’m there. It gives the Ugandan Surgeons a break, and often a chance to get away for a few days, but is also pretty stimulating as I get to do all sorts of things that I wouldn’t do in the UK. I’ll also take out a load of old supplies that I’ve been collecting – from sutures and equipment to dressings and catheter bags. I’ll need to check over the Endoscopy equipment and ensure that its all working well too.
The third reason for going, and the point of heading out for the end of September, is that I’m going to be Guest Of Honour at the 2010 Kiwoko Chase. This is an annual race held by the hospital, both for fundraising and team-building purposes. When I was there in 2007, the 16km run from the local town, Luwero, almost killed me, so I don’t quite know why I’m planning to do it again – this time its a different route, but still the same distance, 16km, along the African dirt roads, in the African heat, at altitude! And afterwards, I’ll have to give a speech and present the prizes!
Actually, the prize-giving should be the fun part. Prizes range from foam mattresses to washing up bowls – all practical stuff, that the winners get really excited about! Its fantastic. I just hope I survive and have the strength left after the run. After the prize giving ceremony there may well be a barbeque – I suspect one of the local cows will be killed, butchered and eaten, washed down with various sodas!
All quite exciting, and a long way from life here in the UK. I’m currently working temporarily as a Consultant Surgeon in Fife, not far from Edinburgh. Its been interesting stepping up into the post, and in many ways I’m really enjoying it. One of the Consultants retired, so I’m doing his job until they appoint a replacement – the interviews are in two weeks, and as I’d really like to work at this hospital, I hope I’m successful. I guess it all depends on other applicants, but I’d like to think I have a bit of an inside track, as they know me well, and I’m currently doing the job... Although perhaps God has other plans for me... we’ll see.
Anyway, if you’d like to support Kiwoko Hospital by sponsoring me in the race, please visit www.justgiving.com/kiwokosteve and help to make a difference in the lives of the Ugandan people.
Steve
