The unsatisfactory situation there subsequently gave her the courage to co-found the non-profit organization EMOTER at the age of 25. However, paradoxically, her desire to help with disease management in Uganda is spoiled by another illness - coronavirus.
"During my medical studies, I went on an internship in Uganda. Every day I suddenly saw people who could not get help because the treatment or even just the trip to the hospital was too expensive. Besides, the further from the city one lives, the less available health care is. Because of this, I did not stay for only one visit and decided with the team of medical students and doctors to found an organization that will help in the long run, " describes Lenka Karahutová, a recent graduate of the 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague.
The most common health problems that the young doctor has encountered in Uganda were malaria, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, and mycosis. Most of these can be solved with medication. However, the problem in Uganda is their unavailability, especially in remote communities.
Lenka herself has been in Uganda several times, and EMOTER has a permanent Ugandan branch. Otherwise, the organization’s functioning and especially the necessary help due to the coronavirus became very complicated.
"I should have been in Uganda right now with two other medical students on an internship. Unfortunately, the coronavirus has changed our plans. Uganda had closed its borders and airports at the beginning of the pandemic and has put in place many strict measures. We had to exchange classical medical outreaches for the distribution of facemasks and disinfectants, and condoms. The number of unwanted pregnancies is growing as a side effect of the pandemic," says Karahutová.
As a result of covid, Uganda’s people are losing the possibility of getting medical care, even though the demand is high. When medical outreaches could still take place, the whole community would come. In approximately three days, the volunteers would treat more than 2,700 patients in cooperation with the local non-profit organization.
"The locals are very grateful for all the care and appreciate it very much. Some even wanted to marry me as an expression of gratitude. However, the result of strict measures taken as prevention of covid is that the number of deaths from diseases and complications unrelated to covid itself increases. According to official information, there are currently around 4,800 confirmed coronavirus cases and about 55 deaths in Uganda. The country has strict measures in place - in addition to borders and airports, schools are also closed. There is a ban on going out at night, people are losing their jobs, they suffer from hunger, and do not even have enough protective equipment and blood derivates for transfusions available," says the young doctor.
The most common health problems that the young doctor has encountered in Uganda were malaria, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, and mycosis. Most of these can be solved with medication. However, the problem in Uganda is their unavailability, especially in remote communities.
Lenka herself has been in Uganda several times, and EMOTER has a permanent Ugandan branch. Otherwise, the organization’s functioning and especially the necessary help due to the coronavirus became very complicated.
"I should have been in Uganda right now with two other medical students on an internship. Unfortunately, the coronavirus has changed our plans. Uganda had closed its borders and airports at the beginning of the pandemic and has put in place many strict measures. We had to exchange classical medical outreaches for the distribution of facemasks and disinfectants, and condoms. The number of unwanted pregnancies is growing as a side effect of the pandemic," says Karahutová.
As a result of covid, Uganda’s people are losing the possibility of getting medical care, even though the demand is high. When medical outreaches could still take place, the whole community would come. In approximately three days, the volunteers would treat more than 2,700 patients in cooperation with the local non-profit organization.
"The locals are very grateful for all the care and appreciate it very much. Some even wanted to marry me as an expression of gratitude. However, the result of strict measures taken as prevention of covid is that the number of deaths from diseases and complications unrelated to covid itself increases. According to official information, there are currently around 4,800 confirmed coronavirus cases and about 55 deaths in Uganda. The country has strict measures in place - in addition to borders and airports, schools are also closed. There is a ban on going out at night, people are losing their jobs, they suffer from hunger, and do not even have enough protective equipment and blood derivates for transfusions available," says the young doctor.
Translated interview from: https://zena-in.cz/clanek/zalozila-neziskovku-aby-pomahala-v-ugande-ted-tam-kvuli-koronaviru-nesmi-a-lide-umiraji-na-jine-nemoci