Enhance Nursing in Uganda with Me!

Partner with me in reaching my friend's dream goal of becoming a nurse to help her fellow Ugandans! Hello there! Thanks for visiting our campaign page.  I met Madrine early this year during my medical mission to a village near Mbale, Uganda (more info on that trip at www.shalomworld.net). She was paired up with me as my interpreter and partner in running the triage station. After an intense week of categorizing approximately 1500 men, women and children, we became a well oiled machine! Due in part to her background as an educator,  she was able to anticipate recurring questions I asked as part of my triage process. By the end, she was giving my public health lectures with minimal prompting! She was also instrumental in our community hygiene and sex ed classes!  Here is some background on Madrine's story: My name is Madrine Nalukwago, I am young Ugandan woman from the tribe of Amuganda. I was born on 23/08/1990 to a nuclear Christian family of five. We were a close Catholic family; however, we experienced sadness and tragedy from the death of my beloved mother during my delivery, to the death of my beloved father who passed away when I was five, to the death of my 24 year old brother when I was 12. Sadly, I became an orphan and was taken in by my paternal aunt. Raising a young girl was difficult for my Aunt due to lack of financial support for me and her family. Even so, she took care of me to the best of her ability and for that I am forever grateful. My aunt told me that my beloved mother's death was due to a lack of health centers and the absence of skilled midwives. Traditional birth attendants did not know how to manage post-partum hemorrhage (or excessive bleeding) after delivery. Based upon my own story and life experiences, I developed a vision to become a skilled midwife who can offer high quality maternal service. What happened to my mother should not happen to others. Someone must help. That someone starts with me. There are realities; nursing school is expensive. At the time, my dear aunt was not able to send me to school. The Dominican Sisters sponsored my studies up to the level of senior four. This put me at nursing school's front door; however, there was not enough money to enroll me into the nursing program. Instead, my aunt encouraged me to enroll in a more affordable 2-year teaching course from which I graduated as a primary teacher, with my aunt's financial assistance. This was not my dream and did not bring me satisfaction. Nevertheless, I obtained a job as a teacher at my former primary school in Buseesa. I worked there for one year, saved the little money that I earned and enrolled in a 2.5 year HIV Guidance and Counseling course. This diploma level program was both cheaper and health-related. A little closer to my dream. I joined the Buseesa Community Development Centre where I served as both a teacher and volunteered on medical outreaches as an HIV counselor in remote areas. Again, a little closer to my dream to help others to not have to suffer what my beloved mother suffered. The costs of the nursing midwifery program are too great for me to afford. I do not have the funds to support this dream. I do have a little money saved, which I can use to begin. I have only saved enough each month to cater for the everyday needs, and to pay school fees for my late brother's children and three other dependants including my aunt. I very much need support to reach my dream. I would be very happy and grateful for your help in supporting my dream…not just my dream but the greater dream to help the rest of my people. By helping me reach my dream you are helping future generations of my people. Will you partner with me and my people to fulfill my mission, to become a reputable midwife to serve the community? I am confident that I will make a good midwife nurse. My commitment to you is that I will do my best in my studies and dedicate myself to help others to the best of my ability. Thank you for your consideration and your help.    ~Madrine  I (AhuvaBatia) will personally ensure that your contributions are transferred directly into her scholarship fund. Please open your hearts and join us in making Madrine's lifelong passion of becoming a nurse a reality. Ugandans can use a bright and caring soul to heal themselves. Happy (belated) Nurses' week!