St. Jude’s was our first mission in Uganda, where we partnered with local staff to help impoverished mothers and babies access essential medical treatment.

In rural Nakifuma, Uganda, St. Jude Clinic, like many other rural clinics in the country, was forced to turn away sick patients—including ill women and children—who could not pay. It is estimated that only about 25% of patients in Uganda can pay for medical services. The only way clinics can serve the poorest members of society, pay their medical staff, and purchase needed medical equipment and supplies is to find additional sources of funds.

NEED

Sustainable income, medicine, capable staff, and essential medical equipment.

SOLUTION

St. Jude needed to upgrade its quality of service while maintaining economic security through a reliable financial pipeline. Deacon Don and Mother Teo designed a blueprint to better manage the clinic and maximize the community’s limited resources.

This included:

1. Donors supplied funds to temporarily keep the doors open.
2. Equipment was donated and helped to gain the trust of the villagers, which led to more paying patients.
3. Approximately $45,000 from U.S. Donors was invested for grants made over three years. This provided:
   • $2,000 for Medication
   • A Microscope
   • $5,000 grant for a pig farm to produce income
   • A cow to bring in sustainable supplemental income.
   • $10,000 in additional equipment was purchased and made it a full-service clinic.
   • $25,000 for remodeling and improvements on a government-certified surgical center.