Scott and Carol Kellermann arrived in Uganda in 2000 to conduct a medical survey of the Batwa pygmies. Their findings were alarming. But through their vision and your support, a region is being transformed.

 

Before

The Kellermanns’ survey of the Batwa pygmies unveiled a forgotten people group with no land or permanent homes. More than one-third of their children died before they reached the age of 5. Malaria and malnutrition were rampant.

Other people groups in the area also were faced with poverty and poor health. Throughout the region, virtually no medical care was available for 100,000 people, most of whom had to walk long distances to get help for preventable diseases.

The Kellermanns moved to Uganda, lived among the people, and started a clinic under a ficus tree. From there grew Bwindi Community Hospital and extensive public health programs.

Now

The 125-bed full-service hospital is ranked among the best in Uganda. Its services include medical and surgical care, a colorful pediatric ward, a neonatal unit for premature or sick infants, demonstration gardens, a Waiting Mothers’ Hostel where expectant mothers can stay before giving birth safely at the hospital, and much more.

Community health programs bring mobile clinics to remote settlements, treat local residents, and educate all local citizens about the value of good nutrition, prenatal care, and how to prevent diseases, including malaria and HIV/AIDS.

Impact

Your generous support of the Kellermann Foundation makes high-quality, low-cost healthcare available to over 280,000 area residents through the hospital.

• Constructed a new emergency room and added diagnostic equipment, neonatal equipment and a water filtration system
• Increased volume of services by 20% to 80 to100 patients in the Adult Inpatient Ward per month and 80 outpatients per day
• Treated over 8,000 additional patients in BCH’s two satellite clinics
• Reduced number of home deliveries to 10% compared to 65% in 2000
• Delivered 1,632 babies with 97.3% resulting in live births; 95% of newborns completed recommended schedule of newborn check-ups
• Cared for over 1,000 critically ill children with 97% recovery rate for malnutrition and 98% voluntary participation rate in malnutrition counseling
• Conducted 16,119 HIV tests, treated 909 HIV-positive patients and achieved 99% (highest in district) in viral load monitoring
• Maintained 97% TB treatment completion rate
• Increased surgical staff with 1,038 surgeries and less than 1% sepsis rate
• Conducted community outreach programs on domestic violence, alcohol rehabilitation and health education for school children
• Provided dental and eye programs to an average of 80 patients daily
• Hosted 3 surgical camps benefiting 72 patients from Bwindi and beyond

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