Shelley West
This spring, I had set off on an adventure to the other side of the world. I knew I would be out of my comfort zone. I knew it was not going to be easy. But I also knew it was going to be rewarding. Growing up, I remember seeing pictures in National Geographic’s and commercials on TV that would show the poverty and plight of the Africans. But it seemed so far away-a world away-from the comfort and security I knew growing up in Canada. When I went into nursing, however, I knew that one day I would try to help. And I did.
We were a small Canadian team who did big work on the ground in Kamengo, Uganda, with the help of local staff and volunteers. It was 2 weeks of hard work and long days, but we saw over 3500 patients, gave out more than 10,000 prescriptions and sent approximately 50 people for free surgical intervention. The villagers lined up hours before the clinic opened, sometimes even the night before, so they could be first in line to see a nurse or doctor. They endured extreme heat and torrential downpours while waiting outside, but still came dressed in their best outfits. It had been 3 years since the last medical mission and the villagers had been waiting for us. Some waited too long, and the damage is irreparable. Some suffered so long with their condition, you wonder how they could function in life. A big sadness for me was the large amount of school aged children who have poor eyesight and need glasses but suffer in silence. How can children possibly learn if they can’t even see the chalkboard, or even the piece of paper in front of them? How can they possibly break the cycle of poverty? Uganda’s government style is different to ours, and its people don’t have the same access to essential services. It’s not uncommon for children to grow up without an education. It’s heartbreaking. There were days we had to turn some people
away and days our hearts ached for the conditions some of the children endured. But we did good work. We made a difference. And we gave hope to people who have very little. I saw firsthand how simple acts of kindness like donating towards the Mission or volunteering your time to go on a Mission can make a world of difference in these people’s lives. If this is something you have ever considered doing, I encourage you to do so as you won’t regret it.