What is happening in mental health services in other hospitals in Uganda?

We are delighted to share the results of a survey of what mental health care is being provided at Church of Uganda hospitals. Click here. Jamie’s Fund worked with the Ugandan Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB) to organise the survey and to write up the results. There are 28 units and 23 of them responded.

A total of 11 units already employ staff with psychiatric training. We are working with four of them so far but it is very encouraging to find there are seven other hospitals that employ psychiatric staff, some of whom are already doing quite a lot to reach those in need.  Others have only one trained member of staff coping with disturbed people coming to the hospital, and these staff can feel a bit isolated.  Many of the other units are interested in starting services.

In mid-November four members of Jamie’s Fund are going to Uganda and will split into two teams to visit 12 of the units, focussing mainly on the hospitals that are already providing services. We need to see how we can use our relatively slender resources to support staff and develop services.  Jamie’s Fund trying to fund too much is not sustainable.

We have also been invited to speak on community mental health at the annual symposium of the UPMB on the 29thof November.  This is a privilege, and it is encouraging that UPMB is being so supportive of developing mental health services.