COVID-19 Update
Like people and projects around the world, Ubuntu Through Health has had to change the way things are done in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With reluctance yet understanding we’ve had to cancel our fundraising events this year – both the Jungle Party and the Annual Dinner. However we’re determined to rebound bigger and better than ever once restrictions are lifted. It’s these great events that allow us to support our overseas projects. They too have been adapting to the unique challenges that the pandemic has brought on. Read on to hear about their situation and the strategies they’re adopting to continue providing aid work and community support in these difficult times.
A New Video
Ubuntu Through Health has a new video!! This was made by the team in February 2020 on the Griffith University Gold Coast campus and gives a run down on what we do! Throw us a like, subscribe, and a share! :)
2020 Update From The Projects
The Ruben Centre April 2020
The Ruben Centre located at the heart of the Mukuru Slums in Nairobi, Kenya is Ubuntu Through Health’s longest supported project. It acts as a sanctuary and is critical to the continued success of the entire community. It was also the project most recently visited by our current third year members Megan, Che and Grace late last year.
This year unfortunately the Ruben Centre (and Kenya more generally) has faced numerous challenges – a locust plague, flooding from the current rainy season, and of course the global challenge that is COVID-19. This has had significant implications on their operations especially with the impracticality of social distancing and the lack of adequate clean drinking water and sanitation. With groups such as Ubuntu Through Health having to cancel fundraising events, they have also felt a financial sting from the pandemic.
(taken prior to social distancing)
However, faced with this adversity the Ruben Centre has risen to the challenge. They’ve made numerous changes in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and continue to serve the community. One example is that they’ve been producing their own PPE in order to cope with increasing demands and increasing costs. This has so far included hand washing soap and masks. They’ve also taken the precaution of closing the school – just keeping the health centre and radio station open.
Outside of the recent challenges associated with COVID-19, the Maternity Unit has continued to thrive. This unit has been serving the community since June 2018 and continues to provide the antenatal, labour care and postnatal care for safe births. March was a month of milestones with the birth of the 1600th baby since the centre opened, with March 2020 also representing the 1st month that more than 100 babies were born at the centre.
We will keep the Ruben Centre at the forefront of our minds during this difficult time, and hope to continue our support of their efforts once restrictions are lifted.
COSAN April 2020
COSAN turns 25 this year!
COSAN (Community Service Academy Nepal) is a community organisation that runs women’s health camps around Nepal. Ubuntu Through Health has been partnered with them since our visit there in December 2018. In their 25 years they have provided surgical assistance to over 12,500 ladies all over Nepal at various stages of pelvic organ prolapse. Aside from surgical and conservative management, COSAN also provide training on prevention of uterine prolapse, cervical cancer screening, and community awareness on the impact of child marriage and women’s reproductive rights.
Women waiting in line at health care camps in Western Nepal (prior to social distancing)
This year COSAN has been mostly working in Western Nepal where many villages are remote, difficult to reach and have certain traditional practices that risk the reproductive health of women. COSAN screens between 600 and 1200 ladies for cervical cancer in regular 2-day clinics conducted in local villages. For this they use VIA – a very simple screening test that produces instant reports and can lead to prevention of long-term morbidity and mortality. In 2019/2020, COSAN screened 7000 ladies for cervical cancer, and 150 ladies received surgery for pelvic organ prolapse.
In the current COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions have been put on travel around Nepal and the women’s health camps have been put on hold. Yet COSAN are endeavouring to continue their efforts using new, socially distant methods. They are undertaking awareness programs on radio, and women are referred to local health care workers (auxiliary midwives) for diagnosis if necessary. The midwives contact COSAN who organise for transport to hospitals for ongoing treatment for their condition if required.
Ubuntu Through Health looks forward to continuing our support for COSAN’s important community work once restrictions are ceased. The necessity of which is nicely summarised by the director of COSAN, Rama.
““We are glad to be involved with this project of reaching to the ladies in a country where gender discrimination lingers in the society and vulnerable ladies suffer silently, by providing them with a screening of a condition that could dramatically change their lives and improve their quality of life.””
That’s all from us. Stay safe! Look after yourselves! And keep an eye out for more updates from us in the future.
- The Ubuntu Through Health team