Making a Difference……….
In June this year, one of our Nurses went to the south western part of Uganda to carry out mentorship. While there she coincidentally met a patient in one of the hospitals who had been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and a cancer called Kaposi’s Sarcoma in her mouth. Immaculate, a 22 year old young lady, was receiving treatment for the AIDS Virus, but there wasn’t treatment for her cancer. Nurse Florence organized for her to be transported to Kampala to the Uganda Cancer Institute where she could get chemotherapy for the cancer.
Resources were mobilized and she was brought to the Uganda Cancer Institute, where she was worked up for chemotherapy. However she had travelled alone to the hospital, which was quite difficult since patients need a family member to provide care and support. The MPCU volunteers helped her settle in, got accommodation for her, made sure her meals were provided and escorted her for her treatment appointments.
It was quite challenging for her being alone far away from home, with a language barrier and also dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy. However the volunteers have been a family to her, visiting and making sure she is as comfortable as possible.
After a two month stay in the hospital, Immaculate was discharged to go home, and the signs of improvement were already clearly visible. ͞She says, “Indeed you people are angels sent by God because you didn’t know me but you took good care of me as if I was part of your family. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have managed to go through the treatment, and I wouldn’t have come into the hospital. I want to go back home and continue with my work in the garden. Help other patients also.”
By Ivan Onapito (Volunteer and Pastoral Support Coordinator, MPCU)