Thursday, January

Hello from Uganda!

The Holy Innocents hospital site lies near the Rwizi River, which runs through the middle of Mbarara. The chemistry team’s focus on this trip has been to measure the water quality of the Rwizi above and below the hospital site, and make recommendations on how to minimize any negative effects the hospital might have. They have tested before and after rain, and have also taken measurements at various places around Monfort House and even the bottled water we have been drinking.

And now a short biology lesson: first, a coliform bacteria is a single-celled organism capable of growing into a colony. Second, E. coli is an example of a coliform bacteria that originates from the feces of any vertebrate, be it human, bird, etc. Third, an E. coli discovery in an American restaurant is enough to close it on the spot. Fourth, the maximum number of E. coli OK in water coming out of an American tap is zero. Finally, when fecal coliform levels reach 400 colonies cultured per 100 ml of water (about 3 oz.), state officials close San Diego’s beaches because the water will make you sick.

Now consider this: Fecal coliform bacteria in the Rwizi River is at least double the maximum amount allowed on San Diego’s beaches. The chemistry team judged that it is unhealthy to bathe, drink or use river water for any purpose unless it is boiled for at least 5 minutes. Other water sources such as springs and wells are equally tainted with fecal coliform bacteria. The team’s bottom line: publicly available sources of water won’t be safe for the Holy Innocents hospital.

The Rwizi River is not polluted by any single source, they found, but by the human impact on the river as it travels through Mbarara – people bathing, using it as a toilet, animals drinking from it and cooling themselves off, and so on. Still, the pediatric hospital will have a duty not to make the river worse, so the team will recommend that medical wastes be burned in a sealed incinerator.

We meet with the Archbishop and the local committee tonight. Wish us luck!