DM
Rugarama Health Centre (RHC) is currently doing 4 community outreaches per month plus dental and eye outreaches. The community ones which are the most vital, are also the ones which are about to run out of funding. The government through its public health initiative is failing to come up with the money, and this service will be axed if funding is not found from elsewhere.
There is need for another 6 community outreaches per month for infant immunisation & Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMCT) PMCT has been shown to be crucial in not only educating, but treating HIV positive mums and reducing the number of infected children enormously.
The average cost of each outreach trip is 64,000UgSh which is about £18
During these community outreaches immunisations are carried out for 7 infectious diseases. Also Health Education talks are done on how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases eg. HIV, TB, Malaria, dysentery.
Before an outreach programme to an area, a Mobilisation Meeting is held to consult village elders, pastor, local coucil chairman, stretcher groups, traditional birth attendants, etc. on the medical needs of the area.
There is a need for subsidised mosquito bed-nets for prevention of malaria. This has been shown to reduce the rate of infection enormously. Distribution of them (for a small cost) during community outreach could drastically reduce the number of malarial deaths in an area. They can be purchased in bulk for around 10,000UgSh (£3) and distributed for about 3000 shillings.
Another function of outreach is to provide training 'workshops' for voluntary health mobilisers; health education on main problems/diseases of their area.
These are a few thoughts from someone whoo knows little about health, has never been on outreach, and famously never achieved even O-grade biology. I shall get mairi to update you when she returns from the office. I hope this is enough to be getting on with...
Many thanks for all your help,
Laurence
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