St Angela’s Community Engagement in Uganda
This summer, four student nurses and two staff from St. Angela’s College, Sligo visited rural districts of Uganda to participate in a number of humanitarian community engagement projects where they delivered general health check clinics and vision assessments in several locations from Entebbe to Soroti, and beyond.
In preparation for the trip, a number of fundraising activities took place which meant the team could financially support initiatives on the ground there and all through a reputable community leader and founding director of NGO ‘Bright Kids Uganda’, Dr Victoria Nalongo Namusisi.
Donations were brought by the team or were purchased through local businesses in Entebbe, which included mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets for children’s dorms, educational supplies, a range of medical supplies and much needed drugs, fifty fruit trees, as well as equipment for solar energy harvesting to allow for the opening of a new health clinic.
In addition, donations also secured a year’s salary for two full-time care support staff and one full-time nurse.
St Angela’s Ugandan Programme Co-ordinator, Seán Kelly, with Dr Victoria Nalongo Namusisi, Founding Director of Bright Kids Uganda and African Humanitarian Award 2023 recipient
As the recipient of the 2023 African Humanitarian Award, Victoria is an advocate for promoting international students’ experiential learning in Uganda.
Her vision is to ensure students and volunteers can feel a part of the community when they visit.
Head of School of Nursing, Health Sciences and Disability Studies, Dr Edel McSharry, describes her experience “meeting people who live with very basic means but yet can still smile and show their affection and appreciation, is something that will stay with us as a team”.
“Our students took the time to listen and did whatever they could to help in every interaction they had with the children and the people they met and worked with, this is at the very core of what a good nurse is and I have no doubt that this experience has changed our students’ perspective and understanding of the challenges people in developing countries face - the learning they gained and compassionate approach they practiced when in Uganda will stand to them in their future nursing careers”.
Student nurses also presented nutrition and health workshops at a health conference to promote maternal and child health.
In addition, hundreds of eyeglasses were donated over the past several months which were all categorised and following a vision assessment, were hand delivered to those who needed them.
Donations could also purchase handcrafted cases which directly supported a local businesswoman in Entebbe.
The Uganda programme came about through a personal experience Programme Co-ordinator, Seán Kelly, had back in 2017.
“Getting to reconnect with strong community leaders like Victoria is key to the success of any efforts we make”.
He concludes: “Maintaining these relationships and contributing responsibly and sustainably can mean a brighter future for those we work with, and one St. Angela’s and ATU can be proud to continue with”.
The team wish to sincerely thank everyone who donated generously towards the various campaigns including local Sligo opticians as well as other businesses.