- We were happy to welcome our visitors last month who made an incredible contribution to the hospital and communities during their visit with Founder Vivian Glyck (L to R: Lidia Domagalska herbal supplement distribution; Dr. David Smotrich, gynecological/fertility specialist; Vivian Glyck, founder of JLMC; Dr. Puja Shah, dentist; Sister Ernestine Akulu, Bishop Asili Hospital Administrator; Jenny Hamel, video journalist)
- The staff and patients of Bishop Asili Hospital were very excited for the arrival of the fertility specialist, Dr. David Smotrich, and dentist for children, Dr. Puja Shah, signs were posted everywhere weeks ahead of time. This would also mark the official opening of the brand new dental clinic at Bishop Asili Hospital!
Dental Outreach
It’s hard to imagine growing up without ever receiving dental treatment — but this is so common in Uganda. Simple tooth decay can progress into life threatening disease when it goes untreated. Visiting dentist, Dr. Puja Shah and Dr. Jane, the new dentist at Bishop Asili, were able to spare countless children from pain and suffering, and they even saved a couple of lives in the process!
Dr. Jane is sure that having dental services available will empower the community to overcome these problems and this is why dental education and prevention from an early age is so important. I witnessed many adults and children coming into the clinic in pain and leaving happy. The children LOVED the training on how to brush and I really believe the attention they received will always remind them to take care of their teeth.
- Bishop Asili now has its very own dentist and dental clinic! Dr. Jane (left) is happy to be our new dentist at Bishop Asili and was grateful to have Dr. Puja Shah here to help set up and treat her first patients. Dr. Puja brought the equipment and tools needed to officially start the clinic as well as dental outreach teaching aids and giveaways of toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss.
- Many children lined up outside the dental clinic each day to be treated by Dr. Puja and Dr. Jane. While they waited they learned how to brush and floss and why it is important. Some children came everyday to watch and practice brushing. The children were happy to have their teeth cleaned and sealed and extracted, services they had never had access to before.
- She’s finally smiling! This little girl came in with severe pain and it was evident from the sad look on her face. When Dr. Puja removed the tooth she realized that the infection had reached her gland, and the hospital was able to help her, a condition that left untreated would have been life threatening. We were so happy to see her smile! So many children came in with painful toothaches and left happy after visiting the dentists.
- Dr. Puja and Dr. Jane conducted dental outreach in several schools throughout the region. The children were very excited and told us that they will continue to practice the brushing and flossing techniques they learned. Here Puja provides a lesson to children at our newest school building project, in the remote village of Magogo, they love their new toothbrushes! Dr. Jane said that many people are coming in for cleaning due to this education.
Professional Video Journalist
- Jenny Hamel, a reporter with Channel 6 in San Diego, shot ten hours of video during the course of the trip which she is in the process of editing into a video journal of the visit. Jenny is so great at engaging and interacting with everyone and the children especially loved her and the camera! Pictured here at St. Joseph Magogo the newest school building project.
Herbal Supplements
- Lidia provided valuable herbs to patients to also help with malaria, typhoid and a number of other serious health issues common to Uganda
- Herbal supplements were provided to patients on clinic day for HIV/AIDS. These supplements will be helpful in keeping up nutrition and dealing with harsh side affects of ARV drugs.
“Women’s” Specialist
When Dr. David Smotrich of www.LaJollaIVF.com decided he wanted to come to Uganda to work with Just Like My Child, he didn’t imagine that women would want to consult with him on his specialty — fertility. Yet not being able to have a baby in Uganda is like not being able to have a baby anywhere else — it’s heart wrenching and wrought with sadness and despair. In addition, since childbirth is equated with wealth and success for the man, there’s a difficult social stigma that’s attached to infertility for a woman.
While patients sought Dr. Smotrich’s advice for many gynecological issues, many women struggling with infertility lined up when they heard that Dr. David Smotrich would be visiting. One major cause of infertility is damage to fallopian tubes due to infection. This problem can often be fixed by a simple surgery, but the proper diagnostic equipment must be available. Dr. Smotrich provided the staff with many helpful tips while consulting with patients, as well as donating much needed surgical supplies. Dr. Jude, Dr. Charles and Sister Ernestine were particularly impressed with his positive outlook and innovative suggestions on how to use existing hospital resources to increase revenue and the offer to assist with the first ever hospital restaurant for patients and staff, the Smotrich Family Kitchen!
- Dr. Smotrich and Dr. Charles treat diagnose a patient using ultrasound. Patients love to see their baby through the ultrasound, but this machine is also critical for diagnosis and treatment of a number of other medical issues
- Dr. Smotrich attends a C-section, the most common procedure, the hospital performs 15 C-sections per month, most of them emergency. Prior to Just Like My Child’s partnership with Bishop Asili, women were turned away and often died. This C-section was performed on a young mother in extreme distress and when the baby was born it was not moving or breathing–we also held our breath as the team worked tirelessly to revive him
- The miracle baby! Music to our ears when the baby finally cried after far too many minutes of silence, thanks to the team of experienced midwives at Bishop Asili Hospital.
