At the initiative of Deputy Dmitry Kuznetsov, a Russian international medical mission took place in Cameroon, Uganda, and Zambia.

From 14 October to 16 November the International Medical Mission of Ekaterina Glock is working in Cameroon, Uganda and Zambia, organised within the framework of the humanitarian programme “Volunteers of the World”. The project is realised with the support of the World Christian Association of Parliamentarians, the Presidential Grants Fund and Dmitry Kuznetsov, State Duma deputy and member of the Committee on International Affairs.

Specialists from Moscow, Moscow region, Khakassia, Orenburg region, Dagestan, Chuvashia, Bashkortostan and Krasnoyarsk region joined the team to provide medical assistance and transfer experience to African colleagues. The mission included a neonatologist, an anaesthesiologist-resuscitator, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, a gynaecologist-surgeon, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, an oncologist who works with facial tumours and skin diseases, a dental therapist, an orthopaedic surgeon, an osteopath (Doctor of Medical Sciences), an obstetrician and an anaesthesia nurse.

The first point on the route of Russian doctors was Cameroon: “AI” wrote about their stay in the country here. And from 25 October to 2 November the mission worked in Uganda.

The first city visited was Bulisi in the north of the country. During several days of work at the city’s central hospital, doctors treated more than 80 patients. They delivered babies and examined children, provided therapeutic counselling and performed several operations, including suturing a deep leg wound and removing various neoplasms. Patients received vitamins and medicines and were diagnosed using a portable ultrasound machine brought by obstetrician-gynaecologist Alexei Tikhonovich. This made it possible to detect diseases in time and start treatment.

In addition, the doctors prepared an antenatal care ward at the hospital. Our doctors helped to assemble a new functional bed, which had been in packaging for more than a year; they put into operation a modern foetal monitor and taught local colleagues how to use it. This equipment allows the fetal heartbeat to be monitored: it will now operate in one of the most remote regions of Uganda, providing vital diagnostics for pregnant women.

At the end of their work in Bulisi, the local doctors handed over humanitarian aid to the hospital: two Ambu breathing bags, a set of instruments for caesarean section, 25 packets of concentrate for ultrasound gel and a foetal monitor.

Next, the mission travelled to Kampala. Here, the medical team split into two groups. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Anatoly Atasov and oncologist Ruslan Mellin provided care at Mulago Hospital, where they received patients with head and neck tumours, skin diseases and fractures. In addition to participating in surgical procedures, they trained local staff in modern treatment techniques and counselled doctors on complex cases, raising hopes for long-term improvements in the quality of care in Uganda.

The second team worked at Kawempe National Hospital. Neonatologist and anaesthesiologist-anesthesiologist Alexey Mostovoy and anaesthesia nurse Olga Schumacher helped to save a deeply premature baby born weighing only 900 grams. Alexey Mostovoy told the local staff about the algorithm of treatment of severe shock and calculation of resuscitation drugs.

To help another premature baby, born in the 7th month with extremely low body weight, Alexey Mostovoy trained local staff to work on the Triton ventilator: he selected the parameters of artificial ventilation and controlled the baby’s condition using the Russian Triton vital signs monitor. Within five hours, the doctors stabilised the patient’s condition and handed him over to the attending physician with clear recommendations for further therapy. Alexey Mostovoy also gave a lecture to the staff of the National Hospital on the specifics of infection control to prevent in-hospital infections.

The other part of the team, which included the head of the International Medical Mission, Ekaterina Glock, as well as Alexey Tikhonovich, Rustem Ibragimov and Anastasia Safonova, participated in ward rounds and patient examinations. The doctors performed ultrasound examinations and took part in caesarean sections, myomectomy (removal of benign uterine tumours) and hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) surgeries, as well as advising their African colleagues on the optimal treatment of patients. The language barrier was not a barrier to interaction: interpreters Pavel Petrov and Oleg Glok helped the Russian doctors to communicate with local specialists.

At the end of the International Medical Mission, a solemn ceremony was held at Kawempe Hospital: the Ugandan Ministry of Health and the Zakhar Prilepin Charitable Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding and intention to develop co-operation in the field of medicine between Russia and Uganda.

The clinic received medical equipment purchased with money from the Presidential Grants Fund: a caesarean section kit and a set of neonatal blades with a handle. Thanks to the International Medical Mission and the Ural company Triton Electronics, the Ugandan doctors also received 18,540 euros worth of resuscitation equipment: a Zisline MV350 intensive care ventilator and an MPR6-03 patient monitor.