Vitamin Angels received a letter from one of our in-field partners, Think Humanity, detailing the vitamin distribution that that they worked to implement in Uganda last July. Founder and Executive Director Beth Heckel told us, “The Vitamin A distribution went fine, only differently than we had planned.” Because of a bombing at a World Cup gathering in Uganda, the trip began later than expected.

The group, which consisted of volunteers from the US and Africa, pushed forward, hiring motorcycles to ride them into an isolated village within Kyangwali. Here was the only in-patient facility within approximately 35 square miles. Heckel described the clinic as having had two rooms, one for delivering babies and one for malaria patients on IV treatment. For the 23,000 refugees in the Kyangwali Refugee camp, this clinic is the only in-patient facility available. The camp’s main population lives far from the clinic, which is especially difficult to walk to when the individuals have malaria or are pregnant. “We could not image walking this distance in the very hot sun, and we are health” Beth writes.

Despite the late start, the trip ended in success. In addition to the vitamin A distribution, Think Humanity provided nets and Crocs to an entire camp for internally displaced persons and handed out birthing kits to health care workers. Heckel told us that Dr. Haroon Seruli, Health Coordinator in Kyangwali, was pleased about receiving the vitamin A, saying “We are happy to join hands with Vitamin Angels and Think Humanity volunteers.”

In 2010, Vitamin Angels connected vitamin A with 2,500 children in Uganda with the help of our partners. Go here to learn more about our vitamin A program—Operation 20/20>>

All photos courtesy of Think Humanity, Inc.

Nurse preparing for vitamin A distribution.

Cutting vitamin A capsule for distribution.

Distributing vitamin A.

Child helping with vitamin A distribution.