The Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) On-Site Staff
FIMRC - Project Bumwalukani
The Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) runs the Beatrice Tierney Clinic in Bumwalukani, Uganda in the Bududa District. The clinic provides acute care and offers HIV counseling and testing, antenatal care clinics, immunization drives, emergency care (suturing, IVs, etc), STD testing, and other services. Common illnesses include malaria, diarrhea, and other preventable illnesses. Extensive educational and outreach services are also offered by the clinic, including patient education during the waiting period and outreach services provided by the Community Health Educators program. The clinic also hosts weekly meetings for community groups in its pavilion, such as the Post-Test Club that is comprised of HIV+ individuals from the local community. These community groups receive health education from Community Health Educators, provide one another with social support, and many of them also have started Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) to provide for the finanical needs of members during emergencies.
The clinic was originally founded by the neighboring Arlington Academy of Hope to serve its students and staff, but the clinic now serves all children and adults in need of care. In alignment with FIMRC's mission, children receive care at no cost, while adults pay a miminal fee for medications (2000UGX ~ $0.80). Due to the lack of adequate medical care in the rural region, the clinic's services are in high demand. There is a large crowd awaiting care every morning, and the clinic serves 80-100 patients each day.
The clinic was originally founded by the neighboring Arlington Academy of Hope to serve its students and staff, but the clinic now serves all children and adults in need of care. In alignment with FIMRC's mission, children receive care at no cost, while adults pay a miminal fee for medications (2000UGX ~ $0.80). Due to the lack of adequate medical care in the rural region, the clinic's services are in high demand. There is a large crowd awaiting care every morning, and the clinic serves 80-100 patients each day.
Ryan - the Field Operations Manager
Ryan, the Field Operations Manager, carrying a jackfruit home from the clinic
Ryan is the Field Operations Manager. She manages the clinic and incoming volunteers from FIMRC. Ryan was my main contact on site, and I also lived with her at the FIMRC guest house, about a 20 minute walk away from the clinic.
Clinic Staff & Volunteers
Some of the clinic staff and volunteers outside the clinic
The clinic has a fairly large staff, consisting of clinicians, laboratory technicians, health outreach staff members, an HIV counselor and tester, and support staff. I worked most closely with the outreach staff, but I got to know many of the staff members very well. With the exception of Ryan (above), the clinic staff is entirely Ugandan.
Clinic volunteers spend a few weeks to several months assisting at the clinic. Most volunteers only stay 2-4 weeks, so I got to know a lot of different volunteers during my 8 week internship. Most volunteers have some connection to health care--as medical school or nursing students, physicians, or nurses. Some volunteers come from the UK, but most are American.
Clinic volunteers spend a few weeks to several months assisting at the clinic. Most volunteers only stay 2-4 weeks, so I got to know a lot of different volunteers during my 8 week internship. Most volunteers have some connection to health care--as medical school or nursing students, physicians, or nurses. Some volunteers come from the UK, but most are American.
Community Health Educators (CHEs)
Some of the Community Health Educators at the clinic's pavilion
The clinic has a group of 22 volunteers from the local community, the Community Health Educators. They provide health education for the local community on first aid, common illnesses, sanitation, hygiene, and other topics. Clinic staff facilitates sessions to educate them on these topics, and then they are responsible for completing home visits to educate their community members.
Their program began in 2009, and I was responsible for evaluating their program as my main project during my internship. I interviewed all 22 Community Health Educators, administered examinations on the topics the CHEs are expected to know, and interviewed community members to gauge their understanding of the CHE program, their interactions with the CHEs, and their perceptions of the community's health problems.
Click here to learn more about what I did.
Their program began in 2009, and I was responsible for evaluating their program as my main project during my internship. I interviewed all 22 Community Health Educators, administered examinations on the topics the CHEs are expected to know, and interviewed community members to gauge their understanding of the CHE program, their interactions with the CHEs, and their perceptions of the community's health problems.
Click here to learn more about what I did.