Since our last update, the WOtW US and Ugandan teams have been hard at work, staying in constant communication across continents. We are excited to share important milestones and developments with you!
A New Office for the Ugandan Team
One of the most significant changes is the new office space for our Ugandan team. Thanks to the generosity of the government’s District Health Office, the team now has a dedicated, rent-free office in Awach. This is not just about having a physical space—it’s a symbol of the trust and respect shared between the DHO and WOtW. We are deeply grateful for this partnership.
Thanks to the support of our donors, the office has been fully equipped with tables, chairs, computer equipment, and reliable internet access. This has made a huge difference in the smooth operation of our online meetings. Gone are the days of constant disconnections and freezing screens—our virtual collaboration is now faster and more productive than ever.
From top left clockwise: Dr. Matthew Kane; Dr. Meg Carmel; Nyeko Richard Ssemujju, Apiyo Susan, and Akello Monica; and Dr. Ann Markes…closing off another successful meeting.
Training the Next Generation of Healthcare Providers
Concurrently, the Ugandan team has been working diligently on a crucial annual project—training new healthcare providers in Gulu District. Every year, the district hires approximately 20 new nurses, midwives, and clinical officers. It’s WOtW’s mission to ensure that these professionals are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to manage unanticipated complications of childbirth.
This past August and September, the team conducted four intensive training sessions:
- 3-day training on Essential Newborn Care 1 and 2
- 3 x 2-day trainings on:
– Bleeding After Birth
– Pre-Eclampsia/Eclampsia
– Essential Care for Labour and Delivery
This project is both large and costly, but it’s so important to the success of our mission. We believe that every healthcare provider who may attend a delivery must have the knowledge to recognize and manage complications. The feedback from trainees makes it clear that the impact is significant:
- “The knowledge I have gained is life-saving.”
- “The training is going well, and the trainers are just excellent. Please continue this to build the capacity of healthcare workers in maternal and child health.”
- “The session on PPH [post-partum hemorrhage] is a game changer for both me and the mothers under my care.”
- “Wonderful training—may it continue.”
- “The training is really very necessary for front-line healthcare workers.”
Well On their Way is proud of what we have accomplished and is excited to continue expanding our reach.
Preparing for the January 2025 Training in Gulu District, Uganda
Both the US and Ugandan teams are preparing for the next training project. The focus is on Care if High-Risk Preterm Births—a WHO curriculum aimed at recognizing a mother at risk of preterm birth, providing initial management, and referring her to a facility where she and her baby will be best managed.
Did you know that preterm birth is the leading cause of death worldwide among children under five?
The majority of these deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Managing preterm births is particularly challenging in Gulu District, where access to diagnostic tools like ultrasound is limited. Unlike in the US, where gestational age can often be accurately assessed with an ultrasound, most mothers in Gulu District do not have access to this technology.. In preparation for the upcoming sessions, the US team—Meg Carmel, Catherine Burke, Matt Kane, Ann Markes, and Ruth McDonald—spent a November weekend in Western New York to review the training materials and finetune the details. . The last step was an online meeting with two midwives from the Ugandan WOtW team, ensuring everyone was aligned and ready to go.
Left to Right: Drs. Meg Carmel, Ann Markes, and Matt Kane reviewing materials for the January 2025 training.
Getting Ready for the Next Phase
Behind the scenes, Matt has been busy making sure that all the training materials are printed and ready to go. So far, we’ve printed over 100 pounds of materials! Additionally, we’ve purchased two laptops for the Ugandan team members and 10 blood pressure cuffs for local health centers.
Looking ahead, we would love to provide the Ugandan team with smartphones that can help them in their work—something durable and capable of supporting their day-to-day needs. If you know of a source for affordable, high-quality smartphones for international projects, please reach out! We would appreciate any leads!
A Heartfelt Thank You
As always, we are incredibly grateful for the continued support from our donors, advisory board members, partners, and everyone who follows our work. Your contributions make all of this possible and help us continue to improve maternal and child health in Gulu District. Stay tuned for more updates! We’ll be posting frequently while in Uganda, sharing stories, progress, and more.
Thank you again for your interest and support!