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Clockwise from top left: A mother and child in Zambia, Tom Kiiza in front of his new Louisville home, children from the Uganda orphanage, a UK nursing student, St. Dominic Hospital in Ndola, and Anchorage Public School students volunteer at SOS!

A CONTAINER OF HOPE FOR ZAMBIA

A 40-foot container that arrived last month is already changing lives in rural Ndola.

In the impoverished Copperbelt Province where changes in mine ownership have eliminated jobs and devastated once-thriving villages, there stands a symbol of health and hope. Right next to the bustling Franciscan Center, a former beer hall is now the community’s first local hospital– serving rural villagers and families living in the bush who can’t afford to travel to the nearest city for care. This incredible transformation was the work of the Dominican sisters who saw not an abandoned beer hall, but opportunity. 

“They were serving the local community and needed space,” explains Shaunna Graf, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving for the Conventual Franciscan Friars-Province of Our Lady of Consolation, the organization that fundraised the tranformative container-- with help of their generous donors. “When you’re in Zambia, a beer hall is not much different from a medical facility. The sisters took the former beer hall and made a chapel, a cafeteria and a small medical clinic. The sisters, the Friars and the Zambian people are resourceful and very well equipped to make the best out of what they have.”

In Ndola, caring for the sick and elderly are typically responsibilities assumed by extended family. “It’s a very caring, family-oriented culture,” says Graf. “Women especially often take care of multiple family members– aunts, grandmothers, children- in addition to working outside of the home.” However, their community is vulnerable to tropical infectious diseases like malaria– making the need for professional medical care especially critical. 

Due to the hard work of the Friars and the sisters and the help of six nurses and two doctors, the clinic has evolved in the past few years– stretching to meet many of the local health needs by adding an ER, labor and delivery, a pharmacy and dental clinic. The arrival of this huge shipment will bring a tremendous elevation in care to the facility– equipping it to handle emergency surgeries and deliveries and to accommodate overnight care: “The plan is to achieve teaching hospital status– to hopefully move from a level one hospital to a level three,” says Graf. This will be a huge change for people who would have to drive six hours by car– if they have one– for care, and who would sleep on the sidewalks to wait for a doctor. It gives a little context as to why the sisters were smiling such big smiles as they unloaded the long-awaited container.

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BUILDING CONFIDENCE FOR FUTURE NURSES

Nursing students at the University of Kentucky are getting more hands-on learning opportunities thanks to SOS.

When they returned to school this semester, nursing students at the University of Kentucky walked into a newly expanded Skills Lab outfitted with equipment and supplies from SOS. "We can't thank SOS enough for the learning opportunities they are bringing to our students," said Dr. Suzanne Pillon, Senior Nursing Instructor at UK College of Medicine. "Last week, we made the move to our new space which has two smaller labs with 40 total stations instead of one big space with 30 stations. We are loving it and so are the students! It's better for student engagement and for teacher interaction. The supplies we received allow students to work in smaller groups and spend more time practicing the skills that they will soon be using to save lives."

Last week was Wound Care Week, and the students used SOS supplies to dress several different types of wounds. "Students got the chance to practice multiple times with more materials, so they can develop confidence before they do this for real," says Dr. Pillon. "SOS touches each student every week when they come to Skills Lab. If not through the actual resources, then through the confidence that you help them develop." This week, the students began Intro to Sterility, where simply having access to more than one pair of SOS gloves improved competency. "Sterility is a complicated and important concept, so the more familiarity the students have, the better equipped they are to perform in a real setting," says Dr. Pillon. "I appreciate SOS so very much for the enhanced learning that you make possible. I will be making another order soon for our upcoming block!"


A BIG SOS WELCOME TO OUR NEW HUMANITARIAN AMBASSADOR, TOM KIIZA!


Seven years ago, Tom Kiiza received a shipping container to support a hospital and orphanage that he established in his Ugandan hometown. This month, he joins SOS in a role he is uniquely qualified to fill.



Perhaps no one knows more about the transformative impact of SOS than our newly appointed Humanitarian Ambassador, Tom Kiiza. A social worker and entrepreneur in his home country, Tom started a clinic in his mother's home and eventually raised enough funds to build a proper hospital and an orphanage where more than a hundred children receive shelter, education and compassionate care. He witnessed the life-changing effects of an SOS container firsthand seven years ago-- when his own container arrived. "Before that, we didn't have anything," he says of his struggling clinic. "We would have to search to find a single needle or a syringe... and then everything changed. With one container, everything changed. Mothers no longer die. Babies no longer die. We have equipment to diagnose and test. The general health of the entire community has improved."

With his recent move to Louisville and SOS, Tom hopes to use his unique experiences to help uplift other communities through the SOS mission. "I am a testimony to how SOS saves and transforms lives," he says. "I want to offer a hand in the work of SOS to help other communities so others can be blessed." In the past two weeks, Tom's presence has already made an impact. He has taught middle school students about life in Uganda and worked alongside visiting volunteer groups while sharing stories of SOS's impact. "Tom brings years of experience as a champion of social justice and health equity and a unique perspective that will make him a wonderful addition to the SOS team," says CEO & President Denise Sears. "We are all thrilled to welcome him here."

 

Cheers for our Volunteers!

SOS started the year with a first-time visit from middle school students from The Anchorage Public School Community Service Club, and with visits from regulars including the ATA College of Nursing and Norton Healthcare. Thank you to all who helped us spread health and hope!

Norton Healthcare

ATA College of Nursing students

Anchorage Public School Community Service Club

Volunteer

BEFORE YOU GO...

SAVE THE DATE!

You won't want to miss the Seventh Annual Health & Hope Breakfast! After exceeding the capacity at our former event space, we will be making a move to a bigger venue where we can continue to grow our gathering and create an immersive, engaging experience that reflects our dynamic mission.

We would LOVE to see you there and encourage you to bring a guest who might be interested in supporting the vitally important work that we do. It is needed now more than ever.

Reserve your seats early! RSVP now!
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