UCDVO & Nurture Africa's health programme.

Hi, my name is Gavin Smith & I'm a 3rd-year physiotherapy student at University College Dublin.

I have been provided with an opportunity to travel to Uganda alongside UCDVO and Nurture Africa in the summer to provide physiotherapy to children in need with disabilities. I will be part of the first volunteer group to travel to the region since the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic. More can be found on the role of Nurture Africa below.

All volunteers including myself must raise a minimum of €1,850. This money is raised to support UCDVO & Nurture Africa in their efforts to provide vital health services, healthcare equipment, education & livelihood programmes. This figure raised does not contribute to the cost of my flights, vaccinations and expenses that I will incur throughout my work. These will be self-funded.

I hope that you will be able to donate and help this great cause. Every little helps and there is no amount too small or big. Please share with your friends or family as it will be money put to very good use.

Thank you for your support. It's very much appreciated!

Nurture Africa, Nansana, Wakiso District, Kampala

Nurture Africa is an Irish-founded internationally registered Non-Governmental Organisation that works in Uganda with a targeted focus on Healthcare, Education, Child Protection & Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment through business training and micro-finance projects.

The Nurture Africa Health Centre provides quality specialist paediatric HIV and primary health treatment to the most vulnerable children and their HIV-infected parents/guardians in Wakiso District, Uganda.

In 2019, UCDVO and Nurture Africa entered a second three-year strategic partnership that aims to empower most at-risk populations, including children with disabilities and their families, to live independent, productive lives. UCDVO provides co-funding, alongside Irish Aid, for Nurture Africa’s programmes.

Key achievements from the strategic partnership in 2019 included 238 children receiving physiotherapy and occupational services, resulting in improvements in movement, speech and sitting for nearly all the children. With UCDVO financial support, Nurture Africa provided Antiretroviral treatment (ARV) to 1,173 clients and primary healthcare for over 4,500 family members of HIV clients and children with disabilities.

Since 2015, UCDVO volunteers have travelled to Nansana, Uganda to support Nurture Africa’s community health and livelihoods programme. UCDVO and Nurture Africa host a 4-week rehabilitation camp for children with disabilities and their families. This camp includes physiotherapy, public health, and nutrition assessments and interventions, alongside workshops and capacity building.