This coming bank holiday, May 2nd ten dedicated South Eastern trust staff will be participating in the Belfast Marathon in an effort to raise some much needed funds for Kiwoko Hospital in Uganda. Two relay teams have entered and Charlie Ataloitis is doing the full 26.2 miles! 

Preparations are now well underway for the big day.

If you could spare us a few pounds that would be much appreciated!

Team One – Kiwoko Chasers
A Mark Kennaway
B Sarah Ellis
C Janice Bell
D Helen Ong
E Mark McAlister

Team Two – South Eastern Breeze
A Roy Harper
B Fred McElwaine
C Iain Gordon
D Ciara Mulligan
E Ciara Mulligan

Full Marathon - Charlie Ataloitis

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About Kiwoko Hospital

Kiwoko Hospital is a rural hospital situated in a jungle area of Luweero, 50 miles north of the capital Kampala. It was started by Dr Ian Clarke, a GP from North Down in 1987, after the civil war in Uganda. Currently hospital funding comes from patient fees (30%), the government of Uganda (8%) and from external donors (62%). The hospital has over 200 beds (medical, surgical, paediatric, and maternity), a neonatal intensive care unit, an outpatient department, a pharmacy, a radiology department and a laboratory.

There is a major focus on preventative health care with community health education, sanitation and immunisation a priority. Kiwoko Hospital also runs a nurse and laboratory training schools. At present the hospital has 232 enrolled nursing students undertaking the nationally prescribed 2 ½ year course. It also has 57 students taking the 2 year laboratory assistants course. The hospital employs 318 clinical and non-clinical staff and is managed by Dr Rory Wilson (a GP from Bangor).

A Link with the South Eastern Trust

A link was initially established in 2006 between Kiwoko Hospital and the South Eastern Trust. Permission was granted for employees of the Trust to fundraise for Kiwoko Hospital, send equipment and arrange for teams to visit each year bringing particular skills, providing specialist training and encouragement to the staff. Kiwoko Hospital has been adopted by the Trust Chairman as his special charity. In the first few years several thousand pounds were raised. The effort continued and in 2010/11 we raised £36,000 bringing our total to over £100,000 at that time. Today in 2016 the total raised has passed the quarter of a million mark!

A Need for Ongoing Support

Kiwoko Hospital is hugely reliant on outside support. There is a lot of support for Kiwoko Hospital from Northern Ireland but the global credit crunch has made things very difficult for Kiwoko. The rising costs of fuel, food, drugs and salaries have led to the hospital running costs exceeding the received donations. Over the years we have assisted with small building projects and the provision of large items of equipment, but the biggest need now and in the future is running costs.

If you would like further information with regards to Kiwoko Hospital or if you would like to donate, visit or support fundraising events then please contact:-

Dr Roy Harper – roy.harper@setrust.hscni.net
Ruth Boyce – ruth.boyce@setrust.hscni.net
Mark Kennaway – mark.kennaway@setrust.hscni.net

Thank-you for reading and please don’t forget to sponsor us generously 