Dreams of a Medical Student in Uganda

Ugandan girl dreams of improving healthcare as a doctor.

Ever since I was a little girl, I was drawn to what I perceived as the “mysterious profession” of medicine. I cannot count the number of times I played doctor with those around me and as I grew, the idea of helping people improve their health became even more exciting. 

While I imagined myself as a doctor, I can honestly say, I knew little about the profession.  Whenever my mom took me to a doctor, I would probe them with a million questions. I wanted to understand how what I felt would be translated into a diagnosis.   

She focuses on science courses in high school for Medical School.

Over the years, I gained more insight into medicine’s workings. By this point, I was sure that I wanted to become a doctor, so I began to tailor my courses in high school toward the sciences.  I knew that courses like biology, chemistry, and mathematics would be necessary for me to get accepted into Medical School. 

When I finally received my acceptance letter into medical school, I was ecstatic at the thought that I would actually be starting the journey toward making my childhood dream come true. I couldn’t wait for classes to begin.

I have always recognized the dismal state of healthcare in Uganda. Somehow, the government seems to feel it isn’t a priority because if it was, there wouldn’t be such inadequacy of good doctors and even worse facilities. However, this lack of care has motivated me to actually want to do something to help, and to be the solution to this very real problem.

Launches campaign, educates on menstrual health, targets period poverty.

When I was in my first year of medical school, I decided to start a campaign to educate young women about menstrual health and hygiene. Period poverty has been a significant challenge to young women in Uganda. The campaign provided free sanitary products for every girl we could reach and we helped a number of girls. The positive feedback we received gave us a boost to continue this kind of work.

Envisions more qualified doctors to end pseudo-health providers in Uganda.

Recently, there has been a surge in “herbal” doctors across the country. Most of these herbal doctors are not qualified to do real healthcare work and yet they prey on citizens who are desperate for cheap solutions to medical issues.

Unfortunately, these people sell unlicensed and untested ‘cocktails’ of medicine to locals with claims that the drugs are multipurpose and will heal them for various diseases and ailments. All of this has been exacerbated by the scarcity of real health professionals across most of the country. I once came across an herbal doctor that was selling a single potion that could work for cancer, peptic ulcers, diabetes, hypertension, and a number of other diseases. The effects of this kind of medication are unknown, and are most likely a hazard to unsuspecting people, who don’t know what they are taking by trusting people who don’t know what they are doing.

It is demoralizing to see this situation go on for years, without people getting any actual help for their conditions. For many individuals, of course, proper care is simply non-existent. 

 Having more professional doctors would be a step in the right direction and would see an end to these pseudo-health providers who are running rampant selling miracles to the natives. 

I am a dreamer who believes in action. I think if one person would take a step forward to pull the fire alarm on this broken system, I am sure others would follow. And that’s how you have the start of a revolution. 

I have BIG DREAMS for my Country.  I hope to continue the work I have already started as well as work towards more accessible healthcare among different communities. 

I am just one of the young doctors in Uganda who wants to change the world and with a collective effort, we can achieve our goals and improve the livelihood of many people.

There is so much that we can do together when we join hands. Your donation will greatly contribute to my dream of being a doctor and helping out people in my community.

Contribute to taking me one step closer to being a medical doctor.

“Just as man cannot live without dreams, he cannot live without hope. If dreams reflect the past, hope summons the future.” – Elie Wiesel

I aspire to become a doctor, driven by a deep-seated desire to enhance healthcare within my country. 

Along the way, I took proactive steps by initiating a campaign to educate young women about menstrual health, thereby tackling period poverty. My vision extends beyond personal success; I envision a future where more qualified doctors emerge, ultimately eradicating the presence of pseudo-healthcare providers in Uganda. 

Embarking on a journey to fulfill my childhood dream, I pursue a medical career by focusing on science courses in high school. As a medical student, I initiates a campaign addressing menstrual health and period poverty, bringing positive change to young women in Uganda. Recognizing the deficiencies in healthcare, I envision a future with more qualified doctors to combat the rise of pseudo-health providers.

This inspiring narrative encapsulates my passion, determination, and commitment to both her education and the betterment of healthcare in my community, making her a beacon of hope for underserved communities in Uganda.