Helping the Pygmies
Four years ago, near the Bwindi Impenetrable forest in Uganda, a forgotten people, the Batwa Pygmies faced extinction. Forty out of every 100` babies born never reached their fifth birthday. More than one in a hundred mothers died giving birth.
It was this challenge that faced Dr. Scott Kellermann and his wife Carol when they traveled to Uganda on a “fact finding” mission for the Episcopal Church. They were overwhelmed by the need for basic medical care, not only` for the Batwa, but for all 25,000 residents in this remote corner of Uganda.
Dr. Kellermann and Carol returned to Nevada County, closed his very successful medical practice and moved to Uganda.
The dedication of the Kellermanns did not go unnoticed by their fellow Rotarians and members of their church.
Members of the community raised money for a simple clinic and then raised money to build a 22 bed Children’s/ Maternity hospital. This building was dedicated in June, 2004 by the U.S. ambassador to Uganda, Jimmy Kolker.
The task remained to provide the equipment needed to make the building operational.......so started the project "On To Uganda" !
Imagine an area the size of Grass Valley, Nevada City, Lake of the Pines, Penn Valley and Lake Wildwood. Population about 25,000 people.
With: No ambulance, No x-ray, No dental office, No maternity table, No hospital beds, No refrigeration for vaccine or blood. Over $100,000 worth of purchased and donated medical/dental equipment was needed to fill these needs for the Kellermanns' work in Uganda.
Thanks to the leadership of members of Rotary, assisted by many other community members, these needs are being met. Read more about he X-ray lab container on the News page.