REACH Bwindi is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest match funding campaign where donations up to £1500 are doubled between 1st-8th December – it started at midday today! We are raising money to support the expansion of Community Health services at BCH. Currently the village outreaches mainly focus on maternal and child health, mental health, family planning and nutrition. This is being expanded to include non-communicable diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. The hospital has run a successful ‘chronic care clinic’ for several years, treating and educating patients with high blood pressure and diabetes. This clinic has highlighted that there is still a large unmet need. A community rather than hospital-based focus for the service will allow equal access to care for those who cannot afford to travel to the hospital. It will increase the number of patients diagnosed with the conditions and should increase compliance with medication.

Trustees and supporters of REACH Bwindi are taking part in the ‘Big Dip’ challenge during the week of the Big Give Christmas Challenge. They will be swimming outdoors during the week to encourage people to donate! Below are photos from day 1, including a swim off Evie beach on Orkney, 59 degrees North. We’ll share more photos here at the end of the week and there will be daily updates on our Facebook page.

Holly is a GP and volunteered at BCH last year. Here she tells us why she’s supporting the Big Give Christmas Challenge: ‘This time last year my family and I had exchanged the windswept seascapes of Orkney for the mountainous forests around Bwindi Community Hospital. Experiencing how the hospital team continuously work on innovative ways to improve quality of care within resource limitations has made me passionate about supporting them in their endeavours. Witnessing the achievements of the community health team in education and service delivery, despite challenges, confirmed for me the importance of projects built on relationships and an understanding the local community. I believe making positive changes however small or large is in our own hands and by taking part in REACH Bwindi’s ‘Big Dip challenge’ for the Big Give I hope to support the delivery of BCH’s Chronic Care in the Community project.’


To donate please visit https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/christmas-challenge-2020 between 1st and 8th December. Any donations up to £1500 will be doubled. One donation, twice the impact. Thanks very much for your support.