Uganda volunteer - ESBIg's Cera Slevin

ESB Independent Generation's Cera Slevin recently took time out from her busy career at ESBIg to volunteer to work with St. Joseph's Hospital in Kituvo, Masaka, Uganda.

The hospital was established by the sisters of the Irish Medical Missionaries of Mary in 1955 and since 2001 has been under the administration of local Ugandan nuns. The facility serves the poor and is at the centre of the fight against HIV/Aids and malaria-related illnesses, which have devastated the area. Below, is a message sent to her colleagues via EM:

"Greetings from a dry and dusty Uganda, our so called 'rainy season' has yet to deliver - I never thought that I would be looking forward to rain so much!

Time has really flown here in Uganda. It is 12 months since I decided to take a career break from ESBIg, where I'd been part of the team for almost two years and prior to that I was part of the ESBIe-fm team for three years.

The hospital was much larger that I originally thought
My volunteer work was a bit overwhelming at the start, as the hospital was much larger than I originally thought - there were over 40 buildings and a water system that was in much need of repair and extension.

The main aim of the water project here is to increase the harvesting of rainwater. This will reduce reliance on public water supply, which doesn't meet requirements during the dry season.

So, a large underground storage tank of 200,000 litres was constructed, which collected water from the roofs of surrounding buildings and smaller rainwater tanks were also installed close to washing bays throughout the hospital complex. Many meters of pipe-work and tower-supported supply tanks were installed, as well as the existing water system being repaired.

The safety culture was non-existent
Part of my work here also involves training staff in writing specifications and contracts and managing contractors. So far, the contractors we have had on this job have been fine and the work is good quality. When I first arrived the 'safety culture' was non-existent – ESB would squirm if they saw it– no shoes or helmets, visitors and patients sitting in the middle of the construction site watching, ladders made from branches etc.

From water to energy saving stoves
The scope of work has expanded beyond water, we are now looking into energy saving stoves for the hospital kitchen and refurbishing the building itself. I also got involved in the supervision of a new operating theatre, which was recently opened, and have been helping with the building of a piggery! Not being a farmer's daughter, it's all new for me.

ESB ElectricAid supporting the hospital
As well as the work at the hospital I have also been visiting potential projects and reporting upon funded projects for James Foley of ElectricAid. ESB's ElectricAid has been very supportive of Kitovu Hospital for many years and recently provided a large grant, which will be used for the construction of an elevated reserve water storage tank. I am currently doing the tendering for it and construction will start mid-January 2009.

Staff funds helped children's ward
Staff will be pleased to know that the funds I raised before leaving have provided 24 solar panels on the children's ward. The panels charge a battery system that powers the lighting and equipment for the ward. Fundraising has also assisted with materials for repairs to the existing water system and the purchase of medical equipment.

A big part of the remaining work is maintenance of the systems and of course the construction of the water tank with ElectricAid funds. There's also lots of opportunity for the training of staff.

A world away from the Trading floor of ESBIg
While there are many frustrations and it can be quiet at times after work, overall the place is good and the people are very friendly. It's certainly a world away from the trading floor of ESBIg! Uganda is a really beautiful country and is home to mountain gorillas and game parks, as well as a very vibrant capital city, Kampala. It's well worth a visit and tourists have been coming for some years now since the region has had the benefit of relative stability."