A selfless medic with a great heart for helping the sick
Dr Robert Kalyesubula tests the blood pressure level of a patient. He set up health projects to help the people in Nakaseke. Photos by Rachael Mabala
By Gloria haguma
Posted Monday, November 25 2013 at 02:00
Posted Monday, November 25 2013 at 02:00
IN SUMMARY
Robert Kalyesubula, the founder of the African Community Centre for Social Sustainability, has set up health-related self-help projects that have had great impact in the lives of the people of Nakaseke, especially those infected and affected by HIV/Aids.
Wars have for long been known to be one of Africa’s biggest challenges, with many of them causing misplacement of people and separation of families. In Uganda, the most memorable one, aside from the 20-year Kony insurgency would be the Luweero bush war.
During this war, one little eight-year-old boy, Robert Kalyesubula, found himself torn away from his family, running for dear life, with no clue of where he was going, or what was to become of him. It is hard to believe that this little man has grown up, to become not just the priced jewels of his home town of Nakaseke, but also one of the four nephrologists (kidney doctors) that this country has.
After getting separated from his family, at the height of the war, Kalyesubula found himself in the hands of a good Samaritan, who helped him locate some of his relatives in Kampala.
“We walked from Luweero to Kampala, all the way trying to dodge bullets, and soldiers on the way,” he adds. On reaching Kampala, he went to live with an aunt who was already looking after eight other children.
The breakthrough
As time went on, it became hard for his aunt to look after all these children, and that is how Kalyesubula, and a few others ended up at the Ambassador of hope orphanage in Makerere. His stay at the orphanage, opened doors for many opportunities, for the lad.
As time went on, it became hard for his aunt to look after all these children, and that is how Kalyesubula, and a few others ended up at the Ambassador of hope orphanage in Makerere. His stay at the orphanage, opened doors for many opportunities, for the lad.
“As a child, I was very good at singing, and when I got to the orphanage, I joined the choir. Our choir went on a world tour, in the US for two years. Not only did I get to sit on a plane for the first time, but I also wore my first pair of shoes!” he says.
On his return to Uganda, he attended Busoga College Mwiri before moving to Makerere university medical school. It is a common phenomenon here in Uganda, that many of the medical staff, prefer to work in the urban centres, after medical school and this leaves many of the health centres in the rural areas understaffed.
“Many of the people in this profession do not find the need to be working in rural areas. It’s going to be very hard for someone that has lived and studied in the city for most of their life, to suddenly be moved to some remote village,” Dr Kalyesubula says. It is for this reason and more that Dr Kalyesubula chose to go back and work in his home town, Nakaseke. He was posted to Nakaseke hospital, the place he credits for being the basis for his growing interest in HIV/Aids, which in the longrun, got him, and a colleague to start up the first Aids help centre in the area.
“While working at the Nakaseke hospital, I met a lady that occasionally came to the hospital. She was HIV positive, but from her condition, it was clear that she was unable to take good care of herself, or her children,” he says.
He adds that there was also a shortage of Aids drugs, and yet the rates for the virus were rampant among the community members. He adds that it was here that he started on the plans to start up the Aids centre.
He adds that there was also a shortage of Aids drugs, and yet the rates for the virus were rampant among the community members. He adds that it was here that he started on the plans to start up the Aids centre.
“A colleague and I opened the clinic, which we called The aids centre. Initially, the plan was to start up a centre where people would come and get tested for HIV and also be given the drugs,” Dr Kalyesubula adds.
However, the project was not embraced by the locals. Many of the people feared to be stigmatised by their fellow villagers, and that kept many away.
After much thought, the duo decided to change the name of the centre, and turn it into an actual health centre that would not only deal with HIV cases, but also other illnesses. That is how ACCESS was born. The health centre, which was opened on March 29, 2013, is now fully operating, alongside the Nakaseke hospital, which serves more than five districts. The centre is run by Dr James Sewanyana, who serves as the deputy director, and it employs eight people.
After much thought, the duo decided to change the name of the centre, and turn it into an actual health centre that would not only deal with HIV cases, but also other illnesses. That is how ACCESS was born. The health centre, which was opened on March 29, 2013, is now fully operating, alongside the Nakaseke hospital, which serves more than five districts. The centre is run by Dr James Sewanyana, who serves as the deputy director, and it employs eight people.
ACCESS’s nursing school was closed because of failure to meet the required government regulations. “We had a primary school, where we mainly taught children that had been orphaned by HIV/Aids. Both facilities were, however, closed, majorly because we didn’t meet the government facilities,” he says. The nephrologist, who was away on a study trip, says he had to close the primary school via Skype, majorly because there was a shortage in funding to run it. The nursing school that was being run in wooden structures was also closed.
Hope on the way
A few years down the road, a fundraising was organised to get funds to revive the schools. It managed to raise $4,000 (about Shs10m). He adds that the initiative also received the Stephen Lewis fund in 2006. These funds have been sued to put up a permanent structure for the nursing school that is in its finals stages.
“We have completed a two-classroom block, and the building meant to house the laboratory and computer lab is also in its finals stages,” he adds.
A few years down the road, a fundraising was organised to get funds to revive the schools. It managed to raise $4,000 (about Shs10m). He adds that the initiative also received the Stephen Lewis fund in 2006. These funds have been sued to put up a permanent structure for the nursing school that is in its finals stages.
“We have completed a two-classroom block, and the building meant to house the laboratory and computer lab is also in its finals stages,” he adds.
Dr Kalyesubula’s efforts have been a saving grace, not just for the young, but also the elderly in the community. Many of these have been trained as coordinators for many of the organisations projects. The initiative also carries out community-help projects where HIV/Aids victims, and orphans are given animals to help them start up self-help project to enable them earn some income to take care of themselves. One such benefactor is Nalongo Pauline Nambuya, a mother of four, living with HIV. Nambuya says she was found by one of the ACCESS counsellors, who then helped her obtain a pig, from the a programme, which has made her life much better. At the time, she had twin boys that are both HIV positive.
She adds that because of ACCESS, her twin boys, who were very ill at the time, were able to start on anti-retroviral treatment for HIV, and are now in a better condition. The pig that she was given is now pregnant and will be giving birth in a few months’ time.
By Gloria haguma
Posted Monday, November 25 2013 at 02:00
Posted Monday, November 25 2013 at 02:00
IN SUMMARY
Robert Kalyesubula, the founder of the African Community Centre for Social Sustainability, has set up health-related self-help projects that have had great impact in the lives of the people of Nakaseke, especially those infected and affected by HIV/Aids.
There are many like Nambuya, whose lives have been changed for the better, by Dr Kalyesubula’s efforts to make his home town a better place, especially as far as HIV is concerned. Some of these include:
Nalongo Nakibuule, a community health worker at ACCESS, who says: ”...Access trained me as a counsellor. Through the skills acquired, I have been able to guide patients, especially those with Aids, on how to take good care of themselves. Dr Robert has helped the children of this area live a better life, through the skills they were being offered at the nursing school.”
Proscovia Namutebi, another beneficiary says: “I was trained as a nurse by ACCESS way back in 2002. The skills given to me at access have enabled me manage to extend my skills to the people of this area, and I know run a small dispensary, from which I am able to make a living for myself. Dr kalyesubula, is very social, he loves people, and is always advising us.”
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
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