I had originally come to Uganda with a heart to work with ToRCH in the clinic in the village of Kangulmira,which is 30-45 minutes away from where I stay in Jinja. Due to financial difficulties, the clinic has been low on their medications and vaccinations hence clinic days have been relatively slow. However, we still do antenatal outreaches and focus on maternal-child health every Tuesday and Wednesday innearby villages.

During our antenatal outreaches, we see newborn infants to children who are five years of age and focus on giving them vaccinations such as measles, polio, and BCG (most of you know it as TB shots).We would also answer any questions the mother might have about her child.During our maternal-child health focuses, we exam women who are currently pregnant and make sure that she and her baby is healthy. Because these women live in remote villages and have other children that they must take care of, weprovide a relatively more convenient “clinic” for a pregnancy check-up. During these check-ups, which is usually set up in someone’s home, we provide them with folic acid pills and even check how the child is growing by feeling forthe fetus in the mother’s tummy and listening to the fetal heartbeat (given that the fetus is old enough).

We also provide HIV testing for the mother and the father (whenever possible because usually most women come without their husbands) and even counseling for family planning. I usually assist Fishy, the MCH coordinator and the nurse in charge, by measuring blood pressure and locating the fetus and measuring how big it has grown. I was even able to hear the heartbeat of the fetus without any spectacular technology! Also, I witnessed my first labor and delivery. For someone aspiring to become a doctor, that’s pretty exciting! By Janny