A VISIT TO THE MOTHER OF MERCY HOSPITAL, KYENGERA.

In April 2026 a team of acupuncturists travelled to Uganda to deliver a 2 week acupuncture clinic at the Mother of Mercy Hospital, Kyengera, Kampala, which was hosted by the Banabiikira Sisters, a Catholic nursing order who have established the hospital to cater for the needs of the urban poor.

Our contact, Sister Maria Goretti, is administrator at the hospital and the visiting team consisted of 3 practitioners and an administrator.    The three acupuncturists are qualified practitioners with many years expertise in their own private practices and the whole team brought valuable experience from the last 10+ years running a similar annual project in India.

Prior to the camp, Sister Goretti undertook to ensure that sufficient advertising took place to attract appropriate patient numbers. A clinic room was made available in the hospital equipped with 9 hospital beds, and chairs were hired for the waiting areas. Accommodation for the team was also provided, for which we thank Sister Goretti. Clinic equipment for the project: 12,000 needles, moxa, cups, oil, hand sanitiser, utensils for guasha and sheets for the beds was provided by WM.

The clinic was a mixed (male & female) multibed format providing full body acupuncture treatments with adjunctive therapies – cupping, moxa, gua sha, tuina and massage as required. We were lucky enough to have two local assistants who provided support in the clinic with translation, patient management, removal of needles and moxa. This helped hugely with the smooth running of the clinic and we thank Sisters Harriet Bukosera and Rosemary Namwanga for their service. The admin function was ably assisted by Ernest Bisaso, an SEN who provided translation and data input at the point of registration, and he also later provided assistance in the clinic and we thank him for his valuable service.

The return rate is regarded as a good indicator of how well the project as a whole is received within the community it is serving. Our instructions to patients are that 3 sessions form the basis of their treatment strategy (although they may be offered more at the discretion of their practitioner). We are always interested to know how many patients actually return for their 3 or more treatments as it indicates the level of their commitment. The return rate for this project is exceedingly high at 85%.  5 patients were not treated, either because they declined treatment when they understood needles were involved, or patients were advised to seek a western medical opinion for their presenting condition. 27 patients received less than 3 treatments, and these will be canvassed during post project feedback.

Outcomes demonstrate the defining issue of whether a project is successful or not. We collect outcome data for all patients, and we report on those who have received at least 3 treatments. The improvement scores are recorded on an individual’s treatment form using the scale on that form, and the scores are a judgement, made in discussion with the patient, around issues concerning main complaints but may also involve mobility, sleep, improved digestion and management of chronic conditions. In conclusion, 84% of patients who registered for this project reported that their conditions had improved. Verbal feedback from patients during and at the end of the project was fulsome, generous and uplifting to our practitioners. Our assessment is that this project has contributed positively to the health of the patients who took part, and this should be taken into account when considering future projects at Kyengera.

The consensus of the team is favourable in that, overall, it was a very positive experience. Individually the team members are keen to return. Our wonderful reception on arriving at the hospital with the sisters singing a welcome to us is a memory we will treasure!