Helping the Pygmies
The previous inhabitants of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, the Batwa pygmies faced extinction. The Bwindi Forest is home to the endangered mountain gorilla. There are 650 mountain gorillas world-wide; 350 reside within the Bwindi. In 1994 the Bwindi Forest was designated a “World Heritage Site” in order to protect the gorillas. As a result the Batwa pygmies were evicted from the forest and as hunter/gatherers, having no title to land they were given no compensation.
Under the auspices of the Episcopal Church in 2000, a survey of the Batwa was undertaken by the Kellermanns. The study indicated that four out of every ten babies never reached their fifth birthday and of every 120 pregnant mothers one died giving birth. It was found that the Batwa had a life-expectancy of only 28 years and an annual income of $25. The need for medical care and poverty alleviation was enormous, not only for the Batwa, but for the 250,000 other 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. Much work that had been initially started by Diane Stanton of Dallas, Texas was expanded.
Members of the Nevada County, Ca community and the diocese of Dallas raised money for a simple clinic and subsequently a 22 bed Children’s/ Maternity hospital. This building was dedicated in June, 2004 by the U.S. ambassador to Uganda, Jimmy Kolker.

Since these humble beginnings the Bwindi Hospital is now a full service institution with lab, X-ray, maternity, surgical services as well as HIV prevention and treatment. The Bwindi Hospital offers a full complement of community and public health outreaches and supports several outlying clinics.
Rotary International has been instrumental supporting this work. Rotary has supplied an X-Ray and Ultrasound unit, equipment for the operating theater and through a 3H grant is providing for clean water and sanitation and animal husbandry to prevent malnutrition. Through the tireless dedication of Rotary and the numerous volunteers, much progress has been made towards the provision of quality health care.
We urge you to join with us in bringing the Batwa out of their cycle of poverty.