Ujama team members at the packing "party"

This weekend we met to pack our supplies for Rwanda. We have 23 suitcases, trunks and duffles full of almost everything you can imagine- gloves, instruments, heart monitors, ultrasounds, surgical packs, toys, candy, toiletries, etc. Its hard to know precisely what our needs will be now, but we're trying to anticipate all the contingencies. Each bag was inventoried, assigned to a team member, marked and weighed. We are hopeful that the bags will make the transfer in Nairobi without being compromised and will meet us in Kigali! Actually we have 22 bags - no one wanted to take bag number #13 so we skipped it and renamed it #14. We are allowed 30 bags so we are thrilled to each have some space for personal items. We are also allotting one bag to just snacks, power bars, etc.

Here is a rundown of the team members~

Sara Holt, CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife), ME!
Specialty: Obstetrics and Women's Health
Goals: To teach local providers how to recognize and treat common pregnancy related conditions and complications- preeclampsia, breech presentation, postpartum hemorrhage, etc. I'd also love to deliver a few babies while in country and assist in surgery.
Previous mission work: None

Hal Goldberg, MD
Specialty: Cardiology
Goals: To teach EKG and cardiac examinations. Also to recommend treatment for patients with valvular heart disease and heart rhythm problems.
Previous mission work: None, except the ongoing mission to raise his children.

Christopher Zilar
Specialty: HIV/AIDS education
Goals: Fact finding and preparation for the next trip; train health care providers regarding HIV counseling.
Previous mission work: Legally ordained, volunteers with local AIDS organizations.

Le Zilar, ARNP
Specialty: Ob/Gyn Nurse Practitioner
Goals: Provide obstetric care and deliver babies in rural areas.
Previous mission work: Legally ordained, volunteer with local AIDS organizations.

Pam Silverstein, MD
Specialty: Ob/Gyn Physician
Goals: Teaching, clinical services, site visit

Sherry Altmaier
Specialty: Certified Surgical Technologist
Goals: To help establish and develop surgical services
Previous mission work: Ecuador 2005
Sherry has been instrumental in helping us acquire, organize and pack donated supplies- thank you-- wish you were joining us in Africa!

Mary Hadley
Specialty: Office organization; computer skills
Goals: To make a difference in at least one person's life and to provide shoes for MANY people. (Mary and her husband Don have raised money to provide shoes for local citizens- they are required for children to attend school and for adults to enter the markets).

Don Hadley, RVT, RCS
Specialty: Cardiac and Vascular Ultrasonographer
Goals: Learn some french and provide shoes!
Previous mission work: Locally with his church

Robb Lowy
Specialty: Engineering, water resources, energy
Goals: To initiate a cooperative relationship between the Rwandans and Gonzaga University Engineering Dept.

Adie Goldberg, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Specialty: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Crisis Intervention
Goals: To assist in rebuilding mental health systems, teaching, healing the healers.
Previous mission work: 4 years in the Peace Corps in Togo, Women's Health Ext Agent.

Ryan Holbrook, MD
Specialty: Surgical Oncology
Goals: To provide surgical support, teaching and service where possible. To make a difference.
Previous mission work: Ecuador 2005

Philip Soucy
Specialty: Cardiology Technician, French translation
Goals: Continue with french work, help where needed

Barbara Soucy, RN
Specialty: OR, ICU, PACU. Fluent in International Sign Language.
Goals: To help where needed.

Preparing for the trip to Rwanda

As many of you know I am part of a medical group travelling to Kigali, Rwanda this June. I have created this blog to document my trip and to disperse information about the medical needs in Rwanda.

Our group- MedicalConnections:UJAMA is a diverse group of physicians and allied health care providers based in Spokane, Washington, who will provide healthcare services and training programs for international communities.We now have a team of 18 medical personnel, who will not only see clinic patients, but also do teaching rounds and surgery with the young doctors who are in training at the medical school at the National University of Rwanda. We will be a part of the Rwanda Clinical Faculty Teaching Project at Kibagabaga Hospital in Kigali.The need for advanced and speciality training is huge, as is the need to see and treat the patients who stand in long lines at the hospital clinics.

We are bringing a team that has expertise in general medicine and cardiology, neonatology, obstetrics, women's health care, gynecologic, urologic and general surgery, mental health, STD and HIV and public health educators; this team will not only see patients, but will also teach and provide workshops in specialty areas. This is a site and planning visit as well, as we hope to establish the ongoing partnership that both HDI and UJAMA envision.We are bringing basic medical supplies and equipment on this trip. Obviously the need for monetary support is great as just the list of needed drugs is 20 pages long!! This doesn't even include basic supplies and equipment.

Recently our team attended a meeting with 2 physicians who just returned from Rwanda and worked at Kibagabaga Hospital. They said that the need for basic medical supplies is great. Items such as stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs are in very short supply.

I am working with a medical company to order supplies for our trip. This company has agreed to sell us what we need at a generous discount. Your donations will allow us to bring extra supplies to the doctors and nurses and in turn will help the people of Rwanda have greater access to health care.

For $10 dollars you can provide a fetoscope – a special stethoscope used for listening to fetal heart tones.
For $12 you can provide a stethoscope.
For $20 you can provide a blood pressure cuff or an otoscope.
Additionally, the children of Rwanda need books and learning tools. Suggested donations of $5 will go toward purchasing books, alphabet cards, small toys and other learning supplies.

To donate to the medical supply fund you can send contributions to me. My address is: Sara Holt, 1602 S Monroe, Spokane, WA 99203

Contributions to the Ujama general fund can be sent either to me or to: UJAMAc/o WomanHealth, 910 W. Fifth Ste 510, Spokane Wa 99204

Our group Medical Connections:UJAMA has been granted 501c3 status under Community Minded Enterprises, which means that any contribution to the Ujama general fund will be tax deductible- we will send you a receipt for your donation.

Please forward this information on to anyone who you think might be interested in our trip, or who might like to help! And please check back for blog updates as we near our departure date of June 16th!

Sara