HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-11-25, Page 9Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - Page 9
I'kusk is going back to Uganda with teamof nurses
BY GARIT REED
Sentinel Staff
When. Ashley Husk left Jinja, Uganda
(east Africa) on April 22, after two weeks of
assessing and giving aid to children in the
area villages, she knew her job wasn't done
and felt she could do a lot more.
For the Huron -Kinloss native and regis-
tered nurse, it wasroller-coaster of emotion
the two weeks she was there in the spring. It
gave her a new perspective on life, _ the peo-
ple of Uganda and especially the children.
This is why Husk will be going back for two
months through Give International (Feb. 13
to April 15) to give her time, compassion
and nursing expertise to the children of
Jinja.
"I think by going for two months this time
it will allow me to accomplish the things I
want to direct my attention to like setting up
my own clinic," said Husk. "I'd like to focus
on helping assess the health and conditions
of babies, school kids and street kids."
Working with and helping street kids is
something Give International volunteer
Melissa Maarten started in Jinja and Husk
would like to build off of her .work.
Husk said she would also like to work
with Canadian Red Cross to help collect
blood that is needed throughout the country.
Here are some comparisons between
Canada and Uganda that Husk wants people
to know about:
- Canada is about 38 times the size of
Uganda, but they share roughly the same
population (Uganda's population is 32 mil-
lion and. Canada's is 33 million)
- Forty-five per cent of the population is
under the age of 15 years
- There is an average of 7 children per
female
- Eighty per cent of the population lives in
rural areas (with limited access to health
care)
- The average life expectancy for men and
women is about 50 years
- The orphan population is approximately
2.3 million
- Malaria claims the lives of 320 people m
Uganda every day, and remains the coun-
tries #1 killer, especially of children.
Husk wants to do as much as she can,
which is why she recruited 14 `other nurses
to help in areas all over Jinja. Some .are
coworkers of Husk, some she went to
University with, and some found by word of
mouth through acquaintances. The groupof
nurses will be arriving in Uganda on Feb. 19
and be there for two weeks. As the in -coun-
try coordinator, Husk will be going down
six days before the rest of the nurses arrive
to make sure everything is prepared for the
nurses. She wants everyone to be comfort-
able in the places they are working and
would like to see everyone achieve the goals
they have set for themselves.
"It was an amazing two weeks when I
first went to Uganda and there is so much I
would still like to accomplish and I think I
can achieve even more with the team that is
coming with me," said Husk. "I want other
people to . experience what I have. It's life
changing to help those in need."
Setting up health kits for families will be
something that Husk and the other nurses
will be preparing and giving out to the vil-
lages in the area. Husk believes it's impor-
tant to teach people how to prevent disease
on their own. The local staff in Jinja will get
a wage when they assist with projects.
Continued on page 13
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CusToM APPRECIATION DAYS
Submitted photo
Ashley Husk and some of the members of the nursing group headed to Jinja, Uganda
held a Halloween bake sale at Victoria Hospital, London. From left to right: Ashley
Husk, Jen Cushman, Kaley Wong, Sarah Fox,Wes Chaulk and Karla Barylski.
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