Uganda | Empowered with Education
READ THIS FIRST, if you have not already, to learn about Health Together.
This is an edited version of the letter at the beginning of the Health Together 2019 Report introducing all the statistics of health education goals achieved by the Health Together team in Uganda in 2019. The pictures are from the September 2019 Bombo Medical Mission which included health education seminars on a variety of topics during the entire week.
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Dear Friends,
Over the past 12 months, Health Together (HT) has strengthened health education programming in Bombo, Uganda. After years of seeing people at the Bombo Medical Mission sick with preventable diseases, my teammates and I were confident this intervention was necessary. What began as a project to impact 70 people underwent a metamorphosis resulting in 4,149 people receiving health education through HT programing. The best part is this health education was taught by Ugandans to Ugandans.
Changing norms related to health through education to prevent disease is no easy task. Our local partners in Bombo continued to work tirelessly in 2019 when our American team was not there because they believe this vision is worth the work. I cannot thank them enough.
My friends in Uganda intimately understand the importance of HT because they see children dying of diarrheal disease and unending malaria, preventable diseases that plague people in Uganda. In all seriousness, lives are at stake. Lives that mean a whole lot to me after almost 4 years volunteering in Bombo. The people in Bombo have become family. I’ve watched kids grow up, my peers get married, and the elders remain unwavering in their faith.
I am so grateful for the support HT received from Peninsula Community Church (PCC). Many PCC members have traveled to Bombo to serve, giving time and resources to support our Ugandan church partner’s outreach. The goals of HT were achieved because we listened and learned from our Ugandan teammates. They are the experts, and they led this thing. As we continue to grow our work with Bombo, the more the walls that divide us crumble.
While you read this report showing all that was achieved in HT 2019, I hope you keep this fact in the forefront of your mind: every number, every story, every goal achieved and new goal realized is because the people in Uganda are dedicated to creating a better world.
HT is something far greater than I could ever have imagined and this is just the start.
With the deepest gratitude,
BROOKE ADAMS
Project Manager and Global Engagement Coordinator