Operation Uganda
A second Operation Uganda project is taking place between September 2009 and February 2010. The emphasis on this shipment is maternal and neonatal care and care of vulnerable children under 4 years old. Donations of health and hygiene products, which can be used by pregnant women and their newborn babies and toddlers, are to be collected. All goods can be dropped off where you see the Operation Uganda donation bins or taken to Unit 10, Eddisbury Square.
Items being collected
- Baby soap, shampoo, talc, lotion, oil
- Baby wipes
- Nappies -- disposable & terry nappies
- Muslin squares
- Sponges & flannels
- Towels
- Cot sheets (not fitted)
- Baby blankets
- Nail scissors or clippers
- Feeding bottles
- Bottle sterilizers
- Bottle brushes
- Sudocrem® and Vaseline®
- Nappy cream
- Infant thermometers
- Cotton wool pads and buds
- Soothers
- Mother's soap, shampoo
- Mother's talc and deodorant
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hair brush
- Mother's nail scissors and brush
- Clean towels
- Milton™ solution
- Alcohol gel
- Disposable gloves
- Plastic sheet
- Breast pads
- Nursing bras
- Sanitary towels
- Nipple creams
These goods, along with donated medical equipment, will be given to the new antenatal clinic and maternity outreach community work, based at the Wellspring Medical Centre, Kamutuuza, and to the maternity units of Kitovu and Masaka Hospitals.
In rural Uganda, over 12,000 women die in child birth annually and an estimated 45,000 babies die within their first four weeks of life each year. Distribution of these collected items, together with essential medical equipment, will help to reduce these risks and to improve neonatal and maternal care in the region of Masaka, Uganda. Shipment of the goods will be in March with distribution in May 2010.
Operation Uganda is a church based community project based in Frodsham and Helsby, initiated by the UK charity Just Care (charity number 1063998) and King's Church, Frodsham.
The first Operation Uganda project began in November 08. Thousands of health and hygiene products were donated by the general public, schools and churches, in the Frodsham and Helsby areas. These goods, together with medical equipment and essential supplies donated by local health authorities, GPs, medical supply firms, etc. were shipped to Uganda in February 09. The shipment was distributed between the Wellspring Children's Medical Centre, Kamutuuza (developed and supported by Just Care) and Kitovu and Masaka Hospitals, Masaka, Uganda. The project was a resounding success and all the goods were gratefully and enthusiastically received by the Ugandan health professionals and local people.
The previous project
In 2008 King's Church, Frodsham, and the charity Just Care (Registered Charity number 1063998) decided to ask the good people of Frodsham, Helsby and surrounding areas to donate health, hygiene and medical goods for the children in Kamutuuza, Uganda. This was a project in which all ages were encouraged to participate, enabling the whole community to become involved. The response was overwhelming and on the 7th February 2009 a team of volunteers, headed by Dr Pauline Hutchinson, filled the 20ft container. On reaching Uganda the goods were distributed between the Wellspring Children's Medical Centre in Kamutuuza (developed and supported by Just Care), Masaka and Kitovu Hospitals. They were received with much enthusiasm and gratitude.
Special thanks go to the general public in the Frodsham, Helsby, Kingsley and surrounding areas for their generosity in providing so many excellent health and hygiene goods; Tesco supermarket in Helsby and Holland Pharmacy in Kingsley for allowing us to collect goods at their store; Main Street Community Church for providing the church as a collection point; the volunteers from King's Church; Mason Owen for providing the Eddisbury Square shop rent free. Also special thanks go to Walton Centre for neurology and neurosurgery NHS Trust, local GPs and other health professionals; Â Charles Gee and Co Ltd for donating the use of the container and transportation free of charge; and many others (impossible to name everyone!)
The aims of the Wellspring Children's Medical Centre are to improve the quality and quantity of life for thousands of sick and deprived children in Uganda, giving them a chance to reach their full potential in life and showing them God's love and care. Just Care believes that every child is precious in God's sight, given as God's special gift to the world and each is "God's Kingdom's pride and joy". Millions of children in Uganda remain forgotten and neglected by a world rich in resources. However, the compassion of our community, as seen through Operation Uganda, has proved that we can make a difference in our world if we work together and each play our small part. Thank you so much for caring!
For more information on how you can help visit http://www.justcare.org/.
