Link with South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

There has been a long history of links between people around the world and Kiwoko. This is nowhere more true than in Ireland, indeed particularly Northern Ireland.

Dr Ian Clarke was a GP in North Down before moving to commence the medical work at Kiwoko. The same was also true of Dr Rory Wilson before he moved to Kiwoko in 2006.

Many students, relatives, friends, colleagues have visited over those years forming many natural organic, relationship connections between many health professionals and the hospital.

Several years ago those connections became more formal when the then Ulster and Community Hospitals Trust nominated Kiwoko hospital as the ‘Chairman’s Charity’ for the year.

Following a seed corn grand from the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET) the link has grown further.
Two visits by Trust Staff to share skills and training with local Ugandan Staff have proved very beneficial.
From funds raised in the last 2 years a new X-ray unit has been constructed, and funds for a vehicle, equipping of pharmacy, and staff training have been donated.

Training of Kiwoko staff and students by SET personnel have focussed on radiography, palliative care, IT and management training. A refocusing of priorities has celebrated the huge improvements made by the radiography training and has highlighted the need for a fresh focus on building capacity in the hospital laboratory.

A further visit by SET staff is expected in March 2010. The fundraising priorities for this year are the running costs of the hospital Outpatient/Emergency/radiography department. The team at SET have been very busy, and further details can be found on the Trust website:

http://www.setrust.hscni.net/lnews/Kiwoko_Newsletter_June09.pdf