Train 30 Neurosurgeons in Uganda by 2030

Merry Christmas, NSU Family!

It is always a pleasure to write to you and share our progress along this great and important journey. Once again, thank you for choosing to walk with us. 

As we shared in our last report, we started using the funds you donate(d) so far to adopt and support our first resident, Dr. Lydia Nanjula. We will continue to support Dr. Lydia for the entirety of her study, and hopefully, as we get more donations and gain sustainability, we will adopt and support more residents. We plan to support a minimum of 3 residents yearly in the near future, enabling us to easily meet and surpass our goal of Training 30 Neurosurgeons in Uganda by 2030. 

Here are a few updates since our last report:

• October is our designated Neurosurgery Month. We carried out several activities to raise awareness about the state of neurosurgery in Uganda and gained several new local partnerships that promise to support us along the journey to transform neurosurgery in Uganda.
• This month, two prospective residents sat their Member of the College of Surgeons (MCS) examinations conducted by our partner, the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA). We are confident the residents will pass, and once they do, they will become eligible to join our training program and receive the similar funding support Dr. Lydia is receiving, to complete their training as neurosurgeons. 
• NSU President, Dr. Joel Kiryabwire, who also serves as Uganda’s Country Coordinator for COSECSA, attended COSECSA’s annual meeting in Kigali, Rwanda which concluded yesterday. The meeting is essential for planning the direction of the training programs and the future of surgical training and capacity building within the region. We cannot wait for Dr. Joel’s report when he returns. We will also share several pictures from this convention and other recent activities. The senior doctors haven’t quite taken to this social media thing I keep pushing. 

As we transition into the Christmas holiday season, things are slowing down here. Christmas is a good time to plan for the future but also reflect on how far we’ve come. NSU is grateful for your generosity and support. 

May you and your loved be blessed this Christmas. Remember, whenever you get a chance, name drop us and our work in your conversations . 

Thank you!