UGANDA

The cost of this trip for each volunteer is a tax deductible donation of $500.00 to Global First Responder.  Volunteers are also responsible for purchasing their international airfare to Entebbe, Uganda (EBB). 

About the trip: GFR has been invited to provide primary health care by an established NGO focusing on education and health improvement in rural areas in the Lugazi region on the northern shore of Lake Victoria.  Our team will provide the medical care and our partner organization will provide health education to villagers of all ages.  On our first day of clinic we will receive an interactive talk on the culture and history of Uganda from the headmaster of a local school, where we will also have the opportunity to provide screening physicals for the school children.  The last 4 clinic days will be in surrounding rural communities and we will provide care for approximately 150 patients per day.  We will see everyone from pregnant women and tiny babies to the very oldest community members.  Many of our patients normally have to travel all day by foot or bicycle to obtain healthcare, and frequently can’t obtain it due to the long distances.

Our team will have a total of 14 volunteers (mostly physicians, PA /NPs, EMTs and a few non-medical staff.)

Please note:  Due to the excellent response to this trip, we are adding a 2nd trip from July 15 – July 23, 2023

Sustainability: GFR is partnering with a local NGO in Uganda dedicated to education and health improvement.  In partnership with GFR, this NGO has a long range plan to develop two health centers in areas where people must travel for a full day by bike or walking to obtain health care.  During this trip, our GFR leaders will also perform a feasibility assessment for building a potential local health center for one of the  medically-underserved rural villages our partner serves.

These health centers will benefit Ugandan children who otherwise are unable to obtain healthcare.  Up to two-thirds of the Ugandan children have lost one or both parents, affecting all aspects of their growth, development and futures. Many of these orphans now live with relatives who struggle to feed their own children and have difficulty funding additional school costs and medical care. Their futures are uncertain and sadly, their health status is compromised from an early age.

GFR recently built a school in the Peruvian Amazon (January, 2022) and has a long history of building and repairing schools and building water and sanitation systems in communities where we serve.  We most recently completed 5 water treatment facilities in India that will provide clean water for thousands of people (July, 2022).

Arrivals and Departures for the Medical Team: Please arrive in Entebbe, Uganda (airport code EBB) on July 1, 2023 with hotel provided.  Dinner is on your own. The trip will officially begin on July 2 with clinics on July 3 – 5 and July 7 – 8.  July 6 is a rest day for the team and you can choose to explore the town of Jinja and take a boat trip to the mouth of the Nile River (included in your fee) or rest at the hotel and renew your energy levels!   You may return to Entebbe (airport transportation included) on July 9.  Please schedule departures no earlier than late afternoon on July 9.   Please see the “after the trip” section for options to extend your stay in the “Pearl of Africa”

What’s Included: This trip  includes lodging, transportation, translators, water, and all meals from July 1 (dinner only on July 1) – July 9 (breakfast only on July 9).  Transportation is from Entebbe to Lugazi on July 2 (morning transport) and from Lugazi to Entebbe on July 9 (morning transport).  Clinic supplies and any special projects are covered by GFR.

What’s Not Included: Your international airfare, snacks and drinks other than water,  vaccines, and pre/post trip travel costs and expenses, trip insurance, your online e-visa, and any post- trip adventures you wish to engage in while in Africa!

Cost: The cost of this trip is $500.00 per person plus airfare. You are responsible for purchasing airfare that meets the required arrival and departure times.  We always suggest giving yourself extra time for delayed or cancelled flights and that you purchase trip insurance from a reputable carrier.  This trip is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.  You or your donors will receive a tax receipt upon making your donation.

How is your cost calculated?: At Global First Responder we strive to keep your costs low and our quality high.   We value your participation and willingness to volunteer your time and expertise. Everyone at Global First Responder is also a volunteer, donating their time to administrative tasks and paying their own way to participate in medical and construction missions around the world and here at home.  The fee you pay covers the actual cost of your expenses in country including lodging, transportation, meals, and translator fees and expenses.  At GFR, no one is paid a salary and everyone is a passionate volunteer, doing our part to help drive our mission of “One World, One Family”.

After the trip:  There is so much to do in Uganda that it is hard for us to choose what to highlight for you!

The famous Murchison Falls National Park is the most popular national park, and you may choose to join safari game drives, boat cruises, bird -watching of over 450 species of birds, and chimp tracking, to name a few amazing options. Uganda guides are license and registered so you can feel comfortable when you book a trip. The park is about a 6 hour drive from Entebbe (don’t look at google maps! – that is as the crow flies and we aren’t crows…) or an 8 hour drive from Lugazi.

Another amazing option for extending your stay is a trip to the Mountain Gorillas (either in Uganda or neighboring Rwanda).  You can fly or drive and the options are endless for where to stay around the park you choose for your gorilla trek.  If you choose Bwindi, the Impenetrable Forest for your mountain gorilla trek, you can also trek to see the Golden Monkeys before or after your gorilla trek.  Please note: if you are considering the Mountain Gorillas, check them out now – only 8 passes per day per gorilla family are released and the sooner you apply for passes, the more likely you are to get them for the day you want.  This is even more important if you intend to go with other members of the team.

A visit to Ngamba Island, a chimpanzee rehabilitation center right in Entebbe is also a great option that doesn’t require multiple overnights. You can ride with the team to Entebbe, book a hotel for the night and easily set up a tour of the island.   Finally, the zoo in Entebbe is a wonderful experience for those not looking for a full day trip!

Click here to apply for this trip:  I want to join the GFR team in UGANDA!                                                                                                          

If this is your first time applying in our new application system, please create a login and password.  You may use this login and password for all future trips you apply for (and we hope to see you on LOTS of GFR trips!!)

Itinerary: 

July 1, 2023 (Saturday):  Plan to arrive in Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport on or before Saturday, July 1, 2023.  We will have dinner with the team in a very nice hotel, a 5-minute cab ride from the airport.  Dinner is on your own.

July 2, 2023 (Sunday): This is the official start of the GFR trip.  Join the team for an early Sunday breakfast in hotel, before we are driven by van from Entebbe to Lugazi (3 hour drive) to a simple but comfortable guesthouse where we will spend the rest of our 6 nights’ stay.  Local women will cook delicious Ugandan cuisine here for us each day.

July 3, 2023 (Monday): This is our first clinic day.  We will tour a local school and then offer a health- screening clinic for the students. Our host will share his insights about Ugandan culture and history in an informative afternoon talk as well.

July 4 – 5 , 2023 (Tuesday – Wednesday):  Our local partner will transport the team to surrounding communities where we will join our translators and health educators to provide basic medical care and education for about 150 patients each day.

July 6, 2023 (Thursday):  Today is your rest day!  You can choose to rest at the compound where we are staying or join the team on the included excursion to the mouth of the Nile River!  After breakfast, we will drive to Jinja ( about 45 minutes away) to explore the town and take a boat ride to see the mouth of the Nile River, the longest river in Africa, which covers 11 countries.

July 7 – 8, 2023 (Friday – Saturday): We will continue to work in 2 more communities with our translators and health educators, providing health care for about 150 patients each day.

July 9, 2023 (Sunday): You may choose to fly home (airport transfer is provided to the Entebbe International Airport, which is about a 3 hour drive) or choose to extend your stay in Africa!  Please schedule your flights in the late afternoon or later to allow for transport to the airport and traffic.