Dental Outreach in Uganda
What follows are recommendations and observations to help you prepare for the outreach in Uganda. This information is based on Dr. Shinn's experiences during trips taken to Uganda since June 2005, along with advice from his Ugandan friends and personal guides.
Currency:
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you be aware that:
- In Uganda they will only accept US currency in $100 bills!
ADDITIONALLY---
- These bills must be 2003 series or neweror they will be severely discounted.
For this reason you need to order new $100 bills in advance from your bank at home, and pick up the bills before leaving on the outreach.
- The Africana and Mweya hotels take credit cards but none of the other stores, restaurants or villages along the way do.
- The exchange rate is approximately 1,800 shillings to 1 dollar. The best place to change money is at the hotel.
- Plan on about $100 per day for expenses.
(This can be put on your credit card at the hotels on your room charge for meals and other services offered through the hotel, but all other expenses outside the hotels are cash in Shillings.
- Web currency converter: US dollars to Uganda Shilling (UGS)
Travel to the clinics and beyond:
Our Guide: Jonathan Nkojo, who is rated the #1 guide in Uganda, and who is a dear and trusted friend of Jerri and myself.
After leaving Kampala, we drive 6 + hours to a house / hostile near Mweya, Queen Elizabeth Park. There are optional "game drive" and boat excursion safaris here that can be arranged by our guide. I have personally seen lions, leopards, elephants, hippos, wart hogs, baboons, and numerous amazing birds species all within 50 feet of me while in this park. There are fees to enter the park and participate in their game drives and the Kazinga Channel Cruise, which we highly recommend.
From Mweya we travel 5+ hours to Bwindi to work at the Buhoma community hospital run by Dr. Scott Kellerman and his wife Carol. He is one of the foremost tropical medicine specialists in the world. There are usually quite a few guest medical students and others staying with, assisting, and learning from him and the local doctors. This is real bush medicine and we will have the privilege of providing dental support to the people who live in this area. Accommodations here are unpredictable but will range from staying in individual Banda huts or tents to staying in a volunteer's quarters (like a dorm).
This is on the very edge of the famous Impenetrable Forest, home to the world's largest population of Forest Gorillas. An optional tour to trek through the jungle to see them first hand is available but passes need to be reserved far in advance. Permits cost $300 -$400 per person but are worth this once in a life-time experience.
Beyond:
Traveling beyond Mweya Lodge is a total expedition-style experience . This means that we must bring everything that we might need for sleeping, eating, and personal comfort. There are no regular services available, stores and/or medical facilities are not dependable. There are hours of travel down endless (and I do mean endless) very rough, bumpy, hot and dusty, washed out, narrow and winding roads. You will love it if you are prepared for an amazing adventure. Carry a full water bottle--fill it before we leave.
It is our intention to introduce you to the wonderful people of Uganda and to give you a personal experience of the social and physical environment in East Africa. The only way to help out and truly understand what is going on there is to go there and see it with your own eyes, and be with the people one on one. Bring an open mind, a go with the flow sense of adventure, and a loving friendliness toward everyone you meet. You will see and experience things you've never even imagined.
Social Conditions:
Due to the nature of the social conditions there, our plans may need to change from day to day. Please be ready for a flexible schedule and an open, relaxed, patient frame of mind. This will be a learning experience for all of us. There is one dentist per 150,000 people. It is our intention to help those in need, to train local people to provide ongoing disease prevention services, and to work with children in schools and refugee camps to prevent serious dental problems.
Most of the population is under 35 years old because most everyone older (including leaders and much of the educated poplulation) have died from various diseases. There is a huge lack of financial resources and dependable infrastructure. There are many, many people in their 20s who have a basic education, working for 50 cents / hour trying to be self-sufficient. They are bright, motivated and capable, and have hopes and dreams for a professional career but have no means to get the necessary education. They are the current work force and future leadership hope for the country. They love their country and they know that they are its future. This is truly a developing country, and basic services and infrastructure still being developed and refined.
To enhance your understanding of what you will see and experience, purchase a good travel guide and
read up on the history, culture and tour options.
