MAF UK - 22 Nov 2010: More than 500 people received medical treatment on Bukasa Island in Lake Victoria, Uganda, when MAF flew Christian professionals on an outreach.
The team of 20 with Ugandan Medical and Dental Mission joined with Jesus Film Ministries to fly out to the Ssese island, about 40 miles from the mainland.
The team consists of Ugandan medical students, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, social and church workers who give their time every month to travel to a remote place and hold an outreach event.
After landing, the team travelled by tractor - the island's only vehicle - to reach Kisaba, a village around a bay towards the south.
Without the 20-minute flight with MAF, the team would have to travel the equivalent of crossing the English Channel in small wooden boats for 6-8 hours. This is not practical for this type of work and definitely not a safe way to travel.
Striking needs
In Kisaba, several thousand people live in houses constructed from rough wooden planks, as the soil is not good enough to make bricks. The main street has wooden shops and hotels for visiting fishermen – the main occupation for the islanders. There is a lot of rubbish strewn on the ground.
There are only three primary schools on the island, so the two churches in Kisaba run schools for 45 children aged between 4-7. The only secondary school only has 60 pupils, but children of secondary age often instead support their families by fishing.
There is also a basic medical centre three miles from the village and a small drug shop. Alcohol-related and domestic violence are frequent problems here.
Prostitution is also an issue. The team were told of one who wanted to respond to the Gospel, but has no way to earn a living without this source of income.
Without the 20-minute flight, the team would face the equivalent of crossing the English Channel in small wooden boats.
Busy team
Upon arrival, the doctors on the team were quickly told of a fisherman involved in a fight the previous night. Kalembe was hit on the head with a lump of wood and had been drifting in and out of consciousness – further alcohol had not helped. The doctors treated his injury and gave advice to his wife.
That evening, the team held a showing of the Jesus film.
Early the next day, people of all ages were gathering under a tree outside the Church of Uganda to register to see the team, before going into the building for diagnosis and treatment. The pharmacy had a constant queue and the dentist was very busy as there is no dentist on the island.
Tests were carried out for many illnesses, including HIV/AIDS. Counselling, health advice and evangelistic outreach were all taking place. One group of mothers and children arrived by boat after travelling for over two hours from the other side of the island. It was nearly dark as they returned.
At the end of the day, 414 patients had received treatment, 97 people saw the dentist and 60 people made individual commitments to follow Christ.
Developments
At present, this is the only airstrip serving over 160 islands. Flight Development Manager Adrian Went joined the trip and visited village and church leaders to discuss the opportunities for MAF to bring other organisations in to offer physical and spiritual help.
But with poverty so rife on the island, this cannot happen without financial support.
MAF is also seeking to open airstrips on more of the Ssese Islands. A planning application was recently submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority for an airstrip on Buvu Island.