Founded by Hon. Isaac Ssamba in Mukono, Uganda, the Ssamba Foundation’s mission is to address problems faced by the local community. They identify five key areas where resources are needed – water, education, agriculture, social-economic, and health. With a goal of empowering people to be self-sustaining and to relieve communities of extreme poverty, they provide resources in the identified areas.
Many rural communities face extreme challenges to accessing healthcare. To tackle this problem, the Ssamba Foundation recruits volunteers and places them in different health systems. For people otherwise unable to access healthcare, there is also the Ssamba Cares Mobile Clinic which provides services to people in rural areas. The foundation provides care for malaria, diarrhea, worms, and wound care – conditions which are treatable but fatal if not properly cared for. Ssamba Foundation also engages the community with prevention programs, educational workshops, and mobile dental clinics.
People looking to volunteer with this foundation can work in construction, farm work, medicine, or even teaching. Typical volunteer trips are about 4-8 weeks long and are based in Mukono District. Doctors who volunteer with the foundation can stay for as little as three weeks if that is preferred.
Juhi Deolankar is a Urologist and Resident Physician. She is passionate about global healthcare, and encourages people to volunteer and get involved.