C D H L C OMMUNITY D IAGNOSTICS, H EALTHIER L IVINGBRINGING ULTRASOUND SERVICES TO WHERE THE NEEDS ARE Email:[email protected]/[email protected]Timely Diagnosis – ppropriate Management Contact: +256 782 316 535 / +256 704 295 1551. PROJECT INFORMATION Title: COMMUNITY DIAGNOSTICS for HEALTHIER LIVING (C.D.H.L) Report period For the period since commencement to 31 ST /August/2014 Lead Author of Report KOBUSINGYE REHEMA (Coordinator) and NTAMBI MUSA (Radiographer) Principal Investigator(s), Co-Principal Investigators and Recipient Organization(s): Kobusingye Rehema - Coordinator - 0704 556 883 [email protected]Ntambi Musa - Radiographer - 0704 295 155 [email protected]2. PROJECT OVERVIEW C.D.H.LMobile diagnostic ultrasound was established two years ago with a vision of bringing diagnostic ultrasound closer to the people who need the services, most importantly, the p eople in far away and hard to reach areas of Uganda. With our primary goal being to enhance the livelihoods of the people in remote areas by bringing ultrasound services closer to them, we devised the name “Community Diagnostics for Healthier Living” (C.D.H.L) with our mission, “ Bringing Ultrasound services to where the ne eds are”, and our slogan, “Timely Diagnosis, Appropriate Management.” Having worked in these very remote areas for quite some time, we realised that on several occasions, patients are required to undertake investigations that include but are not limited to Laboratory tests, ultrasound scanning and x-ray imaging. Owing to the affordable cost of the equipment required to set up a basic medical laboratory, many of the laboratory tests can be performed almost anywhere even in these remote areas. On the other hand, however, x-ray and ultrasound investigations are not easily acc essible in these remote areas. This is largely attributed to the usually very high cost of the required eq uipment and the scarcity of the technic al people (radiographers) to use the machines.
C.D.H.L Mobile diagnostic ultrasound was established two years ago with a vision of bringing
diagnostic ultrasound closer to the people who need the services, most importantly, the people in
far away and hard to reach areas of Uganda.
With our primary goal being to enhance the livelihoods of the people in remote areas by bringing
ultrasound services closer to them, we devised the name “Community Diagnostics for Healthier
Living” (C.D.H.L) with our mission, “ Bringing Ultrasound services to where the needs are”,
and our slogan, “Timely Diagnosis, Appropriate Management.”
Having worked in these very remote areas for quite some time, we realised that on several
occasions, patients are required to undertake investigations that include but are not limited to
Laboratory tests, ultrasound scanning and x-ray imaging.
Owing to the affordable cost of the equipment required to set up a basic medical laboratory,
many of the laboratory tests can be performed almost anywhere even in these remote areas. Onthe other hand, however, x-ray and ultrasound investigations are not easily accessible in these
remote areas. This is largely attributed to the usually very high cost of the required equipment
and the scarcity of the technical people (radiographers) to use the machines.
The few radiographers that are available in the country, dread working in hard to reach areas and
prefer jobs in the major towns and trading centres. This leaves the people in these remote places
with no choice but to endure long journeys in search for the radiology services.
Many of these Ugandans live below the poverty line and only a few of them can earn an average
of two dollars ($2) per day while a great majority earn less than one dollar (< $1) per day.
As a result of the meagre incomes, many of them fail to get the investigations done because of
the hefty transport costs and the unbearably high charges for the radiology services in the town
centres.
In such scenarios, the clinicians may opt to manage the patients symptomatically or evenundertake risky surgical procedures in a bid to help the patients. This would at times help save
the situation but it on several occasions led to the worsening of the patient’s condition or even
death in cases like raptured ectopic pregnancies.
Most importantly, this affect mothers more than the rest. In cases of transverse lies and as well as
in breech presentations.
It was on that background that we thought of bringing ultrasound services closer to these people
within their communities so as to help them especially the mothers and try to offer them the
service without having to move long distances and help them have timely diagnosis for
appropriate management.
When the idea was conceived, we introduced it tour friend and sister, Dana form Tucson in the
U.S, who helped us and got us the machine and also transported it Uganda.
7. Core purpose of the project
Improve the livelihoods of the people by bringing ultrasound services to where the needs are.
8. Specific Objectives of the Project
Improve the livelihoods of the people living in these hard to reach areas.
Help patients receive the best health care possible without having to travel long distances.
Improve the health of the people by giving them timely diagnosis.
Enhance the clinicians’ practice by giving them appropriate diagnosis.
Help improve the financial status of the communities by helping them save what they
would have spent on transportation and examination charges.
