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ASHA: Making an impact

CURE Uganda

By CURE International

July 17^th, 2018

USAID ASHA (the United States Agency for International Development's American Schools and Hospitals Abroad program) has awarded several grants to CURE Uganda. These grants have provided the infrastructure, equipment, and capacity to deliver life-saving surgeries to thousands of children with conditions like hydrocephalus and spina bifida. In total, ASHA has supported the treatment of over 6,000 children with hydrocephalus in East Africa.

Aaron, treated at CURE Uganda, is one of them.

This is Aaron (foreground) and his mother Annet. Aaron was born with spina bifida and developed hydrocephalus.

Through the ASHA program, a new patient ward was opened at the CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda in 2013.

Annet watches her son receive a CT scan of his brain. In the foreground, the radiographer views the CT image on a monitor.

The first ASHA award for CURE Uganda was a Siemens CT scanner.

CURE Uganda neurosurgeons perform the innovative ETV/CPC procedure to treat Aaron’s hydrocephalus.

Along with a new patient ward, a third operating theater (pictured here) was built with an ASHA award.

Aaron recovers from surgery in the ICU.

With its second ASHA award, CURE Uganda purchased surgical, imaging, and monitoring equipment.

Annet carries her son Aaron in her arms as they are discharged to return home!

Thanks to funding from ASHA, more children like Aaron are able to receive the treatment they need. This transformational experience takes them from being gravely ill to healthy and growing, and from being a burden on the communities to active, productive members.