EWB mission expands health care in Uganda
Student team improves hospital infrastructure, access to medical services
Uganda, also known as the "Pearl of Africa," is home to approximately 50 million people and is recognized for its rich cultural diversity, stunning landscapes and resilient population. Despite its natural beauty, Uganda faces many challenges, particularly in its health care system, where limited resources and a growing population put immense pressure on facilities and services. The WashU Engineers Without Borders (EWB) St. Francis project team traveled to Uganda during winter break to assist St. Francis Health Care, a nonprofit dedicated to providing equitable, inclusive and affordable quality health care, economic empowerment and social services to the community. This trip marked a major milestone in a six-year project aimed at improving hospital infrastructure and the community’s access to affordable health care.
A vital partnership with St. Francis Health Care
St. Francis Hospital provides medical services in the East Central region of Jinja, serving many villages and surrounding communities. It is the only facility in a 60-mile radius that has an ambulance equipped with an intensive care unit. The hospital faces significant challenges, especially as it is largely funded through donations. This is not sustainable for long-term operation, and that is what WashU EWB aims to address throughout its partnership.
Typically, the hospital experiences power outages multiple times a week, disrupting patient care and hospital operations. Despite these challenges, St. Francis continues to provide vital services, including weekly vaccinations and community health interventions. The hospital distributes around 700 vaccines each week with the assistance of the World Health Organization (WHO), addressing diseases like measles, polio, tetanus and chickenpox. A large proportion of the hospital’s patients are young people, particularly those in their pre-teens to early 20s, and the hospital is seeing increasing rates of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
On New Year’s Eve, the WashU team of eight visited St. Francis Hospital to meet the staff and get a tour of the facility’s operations. The team was guided by Nyende Ali, the partnership and resource manager at St. Francis, who has dedicated more than 10 years to leading community health programs and hospital operations. Ali has also been instrumental in running Omoana House, which opened in 2009 to provide support for children suffering from HIV and malnutrition. The Omoana House is directed by Namirimu Teddy, who helped lead the St. Francis team to success in Jinja through her efforts and selflessness.
The hospital also has a Diagnostic Center that processes around 200 tests per day, mainly for tuberculosis, malaria and typhoid fever. However, the center is limited by outdated equipment, meaning only 45 operations can be performed each month. Long waiting times, particularly for maternal care, are common — there are only two midwives for every 10 mothers. On a given day, 60% of the hospital’s patient rooms are occupied, further highlighting the strain on resources.
During COVID, WashU EWB raised funds to supply necessary materials such as masks and face shields for the health care center. Combined with the high quality of care St. Francis provided, the center saw only one COVID death throughout the pandemic.
Engineering solutions for sustainable impact
The WashU EWB team’s mission in Uganda was to implement engineering solutions that would have a lasting impact on St. Francis Hospital and the surrounding community. A significant portion of the team's work centered around the hospital’s farm in a rural district of Jinja. This farm is a critical resource for food production, water supply and financial support for the hospital. It grows a variety of crops, including bananas, watermelon, squash and more. The produce grown feeds the Omoana House, a facility for children suffering from HIV and malnutrition. The remaining is sold to help fund hospital operations, assisting with its goal to be self-sufficient. The surrounding community has some of the highest rates of typhoid due to limited access to clean water. Therefore, community members drink from stagnant pools shared by animals. The excess water not required for irrigation will be stored and made available to the community via a tap. The water is sourced from an underground aqueduct that passed all metrics required to be potable.
WashU EWB set out to improve the farm’s sustainability by providing infrastructure that would ensure a reliable water source and energy-efficient irrigation. The team designed a system with a water tank, an electric pump with a pump house, and a drip irrigation system, which will help the farm maintain consistent agricultural production. To do this, the team used EPANET irrigation software, Grundfos power distribution software, AutoCAD, ArcGIS and hand calculations. Additionally, 10 330W solar panels were integrated into the system to power the irrigation, providing a renewable energy source to reduce reliance on the frequently unreliable grid power.
After New Year’s Day, the team traveled to the farm site to conduct a detailed survey with local partners, including Bernoulli Engineering, Ali Sakali from EWB East Africa, St. Francis programs manager Katariwa Tarasi, and other St. Francis employees. The team assessed the current hand pump that had been implemented remotely during the pandemic and evaluated the source of the well. They also determined the optimal placement for the water tank, tap and solar panel. Using GIS mapping, they designed the most efficient layout to ensure that the solar panel would provide maximum energy for the farm’s irrigation needs.
The project is set to be completed by the end of March 2025 and will be monitored remotely by the team. This ensures that the farm can operate more efficiently and sustainably, directly benefiting both the hospital and the local community. By enhancing the farm’s productivity, these improvements will help St. Francis reduce its dependency on external resources, ensuring a more stable and self-sufficient future for both the hospital and the Omoana House.
Additional visits and cultural exploration
In addition to their work at St. Francis Hospital, the WashU EWB team visited another EWB project at Bulubandi School, located in the Eastern region of Uganda. There, they collected data to inform future engineering solutions. The team also visited the EWB East Africa office to better understand how local teams collaborate on these critical projects and to strengthen connections with partners in the region.
Outside of their engineering work, the WashU team also had the chance to experience Uganda’s breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. They visited the Busoga Kingdom, a culturally significant site in Uganda, and explored the majestic Busowoko Falls. The team also visited the source of the Nile River and Lake Victoria, iconic landmarks that hold deep cultural and environmental significance. During their time in Uganda, the team was interviewed by BabaTV, a local Ugandan channel, with whom they shared the impact of their work.
Each day was filled with new experiences, from technical challenges to cultural discoveries. The warmth and generosity of the Ugandan people left a lasting impact on the team members, who were deeply moved by the opportunity to contribute to the community.
The WashU EWB team: diverse expertise and shared purpose
The WashU EWB St. Francis project team was made up of nine members, each bringing their expertise and passion to the project. The team included:
- Kurt Russell, lecturer in the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (new EWB adviser)
- Ray Erhard, senior lecturer in the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (former EWB adviser and previous trip participant)
- Gabby Day, graduate student in electrical engineering (project leader)
- David Howard, mechanical engineering (Dual Degree program)
- Shanice Mutabazi, mechanical engineering (Dual Degree program)
- Jack Williams, mechanical engineering (Dual Degree program)
- Miranda Lee, senior in biomedical engineering
- Fadila Lateef, junior in chemical engineering
- Aaron Peters, senior in biomedical engineering
Aaron unfortunately could not travel with the St. Francis team but has been involved with designing and implementing the project for the past four years. He greatly contributed to the operations during the trip.
For most of the team, this was their first trip to Uganda and, for many, their first time visiting the African continent. The shared experience of overcoming engineering challenges and learning from local communities made this an unforgettable experience for the team.
Looking ahead
The trip to Uganda commemorated a pivotal moment in the St. Francis project, as most of the initial project efforts are complete. However, the team decided in Uganda to continue relations with the St. Francis community due to the mission of the health care center. Future implementation trips aim to build off the project, including replacing the faulty backup generator with an additional solar energy storage system, utilizing excess power for a charging station, or tying the power into the grid to be sold for further income. In addition, the team previously designed a cookstove ventilation system for the facility; however, due to funding constraints they were unable to implement it on this trip. Future efforts will focus on further improving the hospital’s resources, ensuring sustainable access to health care for the community, and continuing to collaborate with local partners.
As the team returned to WashU, they left behind not just physical infrastructure, but a deeper connection to Uganda, its people and the ongoing efforts to improve health-care access in the region. Through their work, the WashU EWB team has made a meaningful impact on St. Francis Hospital and will continue to support the hospital in its mission to serve the Jinja community for years to come.
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