INTERNATIONAL
UTAS Uganda project seeks microscopes & dollars T
he International Society for Student Unity and Empowerment (ISSUE) is a recently formed foundation created and run by University of Tasmania (UTAS) medical students. In November 2010, the four founding members of ISSUE spent several weeks in Uganda undertaking rural health projects and forming partnerships with local charity and student groups. The initial venture was considered to be a success, and consequently, a continuation was desired both by the partnerships in Uganda and the founders in Tasmania. In December 2011, the goal of ISSUE’s Alice McGushin, Breeanna Cumming, Joann Pinto, Katie Daw and Yoni Byron is to make an initial assessment of last year’s project and, with the Anaweza Foundation, undertake an initiative for health education and prevention of diseases. We aim to target specific populations that suffer from disproportionate health morbidity and mortality. One identified need is a reliable and sustainable measure of diagnosis for malaria infections in rural areas. There are at least 11 health clinics that were identified to be in need of such measures. In these centres, malaria is currently diagnosed clinically according to the unique temperature patterns of patients with this infection. This method of diagnosis has low rates of specificity, but in order to avoid the severe consequences of untreated malaria, most presentations are given anti-malarial medication. This leads to depletion of the limited drug reservoir and causes emergence of resistant strains. Provision of microscopes would greatly improve the health services offered by these clinics and consequently the health of the community. ISSUE has arranged various fundraising events and suggested that UTAS might wish to make a donation of unused microscopes, if available and feasible. ISSUE is also requesting donations from NTEU members that would be specifically used for purchasing diagnostic equipment and financing methods of prevention of future infections, such as distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) as recommended NOVEMBER 2011 www.nteu.org.au
by the WHO, as well as diagnostic tools like microscopes from local distributors in Uganda. The cost of an ITN is equivalent to $6, and a single microscope purchased in Kampala at approximately $600. The entirety of donations will be used for financing medical measures, as all personal expenses are paid from the students’ own money. For further information please visit the ISSUE website (see below) or email Yoni Byron yabyron@postoffice.utas.edu.au. Donations can be made via direct deposit to ‘The ISSUE Foundation’, BSB: 017042, Account no. 183392384. (Please include an email to Yoni with details of the donation made as this account is used for multiple projects.) A ISSUE website c theissuefoundation.org Photos © ISSUE Foundation 29