The lack of basic medical care is a massive problem throughout much of northern Uganda. Scarce medical supplies, inadequate financing, corruption, and widespread disease are only a few of the factors generating this shortage in medical care. These obstacles are only compounded by the conditions in IDP camps, where preventable or treatable illnesses easily turn into life threatening emergencies.

Connect Africa’s first aid program was birthed out of a severe car accident involving the Connect Africa team and several partners. As a result of experiencing the challenges of medical care access firsthand, the Connect Africa leadership was inspired to take training courses in basic first aid and trauma response. These Connect Africa team members worked to create a first aid medical kit and training seminar that equips local village leaders to treat fellow villagers and train them in proper sanitation practices, wound care, and trauma response. The kit has the capacity to treat over 600 people and provides medical supplies that cannot cause harm if administered incorrectly. Training seminars teach residents how to use each kit and also how to maintain medical records to begin identifying the medical trends and patterns in different regions.