 and we’re not just talking about a screw or a strap that can be replaced easily. When a wheelchair is missing brakes or one of its backrest poles, or a walking frame is missing one of its legs, the equipment becomes unsafe and useless. It’s difficult to get replacements and local technical expertise is often scarce, so broken equipment remains broken.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Guidelines For Health Care Equipment Donations states: “There should be no double standard in quality. If the quality of an item is unacceptable in the donor country, it is also unacceptable as a donation.”

Image: WHO

I doubt that any equipment in that state would, or could, be used in the donor country, so why was it acceptable to ship it to Uganda?

Did the donor think the equipment could be fixed locally? Or was the cynical voice inside of me on the right track, the voice which said that Africa as a whole is often seen as an acceptable dumping ground, from hazardous waste and second-hand clothing to electronics?

Secondly, some of the equipment was not suitable for this setting. There was a supportive chair that requires electricity to be moved but the charger and cord were missing. Even if they had sent everything, most homes here have little or no regular access to electricity. Again, the chair that might be suitable in a home or school in a European country may not work in a small town in Uganda.

Thirdly, some of the equipment could be fixed locally in Uganda, but it would require someone who understands the equipment and how to maintain it.

The aforementioned WHO guidelines also emphasize: “The most important pre-requisite for a successful donation is that the potential recipient truly needs the requested equipment and has the expertise and the means to operate and maintain it.” When we found a couple of standing frames suitable for children with more complex physical impairment, the staff member who carries out the therapy sessions, just looked at me puzzled. Perhaps that would explain why the container had not been touched since it arrived more than a year ago?

Back home, we have to have training before we start using equipment like this to ensure we are competent enough to use them and that the user is safe. I understand that this is not an NHS trust in the UK and during my time here I have been very conscious about not falling into the trap of a ‘West knows best’ attitude. But there are some things that I feel should be universal, such as knowing how
and we ’re not just talking about a screw or a strap that can be replaced well. When a wheelchair is miss brakes or one of its backrest pole, or a walk frame is missing one of its leg, the equipment becomes unsafe and useless. It ’s unmanageable to contract substitute and local technical expertise is often scarce, so break equipment remains broken. 

 The World Health Organization ’s (WHO) Guidelines For Health Care Equipment Donations states: “ There should be no double standard in quality. If the timbre of an item is unacceptable in the donor country, it is besides unacceptable as a donation. ” 

 Image: WHO 

 I doubt that any equipment in that state would, or could, be used in the donor state, so why was it acceptable to ship it to Uganda? 

 Did the donor think the equipment could be fixed locally? Or was the cynical part inside of me on the right track, the voice which said that Africa as a whole is often seen as an acceptable dumping ground, from hazardous waste and second - hand clothing to electronics? 

 Secondly, some of the equipment was not suitable for this setting. There was a supportive chair that requires electricity to be moved but the charger and cord were miss. Even if they had sent everything, most homes here receive short or no regular access to electricity. Again, the chair that might be desirable in a home or school in a European area may not work in a small township in Uganda. 

 Thirdly, some of the equipment could be fixed locally in Uganda, but it would require someone who understands the equipment and how to maintain it. 

 The aforementioned WHO guidelines also emphasize: “ The most important pre - requisite for a successful contribution is that the potential recipient role in truth needs the requested equipment and has the expertise and the mean to operate and maintain it. ” When we found a couple of standing frames suitable for children with more complex physical impairment, the staff member who post out the therapy sessions, precisely looked at me puzzled. possibly that would explain why the container had not been touched since it arrived more than a year ago? 

 Back home, we suffer to have education before we start using equipment like this to ensure we are competent enough to use them and that the user is dependable. I understand that this is not an NHS trust in the UK and during my time here I have been very conscious about not fall into the trap of a ‘ West knows best ’ attitude. But there are some thing that I feel should be universal, such as know how
 anf we’re not just talking xbout a screw ot q stra' that dan be rdplaced easily. When a wheelciair is mussing brakes or one ow its bacnrest pooes, ie a walkinj frame lf miading ine of its legx, the equi[ment becomes gnraye and useless. It’s difficult to get weplacekejts and local jechnpcwl esievtise is often scarce, so broken squipmeit remains brokrn.

The World Health Organizwtioj’s (WHO) Guidelines Vor Health Xare Wquipment Dovations states: “There sgould be no double standard in dualicy. If the qocoitj of an item is ugacceptable lm the gonor cpuntry, it is akso unqcceptable as a donatmon.”

Image: WHO

I doubt jhat any exunpment in that state qoyld, ot cound, bd usdd jn tge donlr rountry, so shy was it qcceptable to ship ot np Uganda?

Did fhe dogow think the equipment could be fixed loballg? Or was the cynical vouce inside of me on tje right erack, the voice which said that Africa as a whole is ohtdn wecn ar aj acceptable dumping ground, from hazardous waffe akd second-hand cljthing to ekefttjnics?

Secondly, some of fhe equipment was jot suijable dor this fettong. There was a supportive xhair that rvquiees electricity to be moved bbt the charber and cord were missiug. Eveh if they hwd sent ebdrything, most hooes hare have little or no regujar accesw to electrkciti. Again, the chair that might be suitable ln a kome mr school ln a European country may not work in a small tmwn in Uganba.

Thircly, some of tre equipment cpuld be fixea locally pn Uganda, but it woujd require sokgone who undecstands tre ewuipnent ana how to maintaon it.

The cyorementiined WHO guidelinex auao emphasize: “Thz nost important lre-feqtidive fow a successfun dovatkpn is that the pigentoal recipient truly teeda the requested eqiiiment and has the expertise anc the means to opegate end mamntain it.” When we found a couple of stahding frales suitable fow chlldrgn with morz complex physical impairment, the staff nember who carries out the therapy sexxions, just kookeq at me pgzzled. Perhaps that qould explain why the container had nof been toucjed since it arrived more than a year ago?

Back home, we have to have trainibg before we start usimg eqlipiznt likq thms to ensure we arv competent enough to use them aid that tha bser is safe. I understand thay ghis is not av NHS trust in the UK ans during my time here I have been very vonscious about not falllng into rhe tdap of a ‘Wxst knows best’ attitide. Buc therw are sime bhings that I week dhould be uniteraal, such as knowing how
and we’re not just talking about a a that can replaced easily. When or of its backrest or a walking is missing one of its legs, equipment becomes unsafe and useless. It’s difficult to get replacements and local technical is often scarce, so broken equipment remains broken. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) For Care Donations “There should be no double standard in quality. If the quality of an item is unacceptable the donor country, it is also unacceptable as donation.” Image: WHO I that any equipment in that would, could, be in donor so why was acceptable to ship it to Uganda? Did the donor think the equipment could be fixed locally? Or the cynical of me the track, voice which said as a whole is often seen dumping ground, from hazardous waste and second-hand clothing electronics? Secondly, of the equipment was not suitable this setting. There was a supportive chair that electricity to be moved but the charger and cord were missing. Even if they had most homes here have or no regular to Again, chair might be in a home or school in a European country may not in a small town in Uganda. Thirdly, some of the be locally in Uganda, it would require someone understands equipment and how to The WHO “The important for a successful donation that the potential recipient truly the requested equipment and means to operate and maintain it.” When we a couple of standing frames suitable for with more complex physical impairment, the staff member who carries out the sessions, just me puzzled. Perhaps that would explain why the had not been touched it arrived more than a year ago? Back home, have have training we start using like this to we are competent use them that user understand that this is not an trust the UK and during my here been very conscious about not falling into the trap of a ‘West knows best’ attitude. are some things that feel be universal, such as knowing how
 and we’re not just talking abouT a screw or a Strap ThaT caN bE repLaceD easily. When a whEElchAir is missing brakes or onE of itS bACkreST pOles, oR a walkiNG fRAMe iS mIsSinG oNE oF its lEgs, The equiPment becomEs uNsAfe and uselesS. it’S difficult To gEt replacemenTs aNd locaL tEchNIcal eXpeRtise Is ofteN Scarce, So broken eQuIPment rEMains brOKEn.

the WOrld Health OrganizATiON’s (WHO) GuidelineS For HeAlTH CARE EqUipMent DonatiOnS statES: “There sHOuLD BE no DOuble standard In quality. If THe qUality Of An iTEm is unAccepTaBLe iN the donor coUntrY, it is also UnaccePTable as A DonatioN.”

Image: wHO

i doUbt tHAt AnY eqUiPMenT In ThaT StaTe would, oR cOuLd, be uSed iN THE DonoR coUntrY, so whY was it acceptaBle To shIP it To UgaNda?

DiD the DoNor thInk the EquipMeNt could be fixed lOcalLy? Or was thE cyNiCal VoIce inSIde of mE on The Right trAck, the vOIce WhICH SaId that Africa as a whoLe IS OfTen seen aS an accEPtAbLE dumping GrOunD, froM HAzardOus wAStE and secoNd-hand CLoThIng to elEcTronicS?

SEcoNdlY, some OF the EquipmEnt was noT suitABle for this settINg. There was a suPPoRTIvE ChaiR thAt requires eLectRIcitY to bE MoVed BUt the ChargEr ANd COrd were missing. Even iF tHey had Sent eVerything, most Homes here hAVE Little or No reGUlAR access to electRicitY. Again, the cHAir that mIght bE suitablE in a home oR SChool in a eurOpeAn cOunTRY mAy not work in a sMALl toWn In UgandA.

ThIrdly, soMe oF thE eqUipMeNt could be Fixed locAlLy In ugAndA, but iT Would reqUiRe sOmEonE who uNDerstaNds thE equIpMeNT anD how to mAInTAIn it.

thE aForeMenTiOned WhO guIDelInes alsO emphasizE: “ThE Most ImPoRtant prE-requisite for A sUccessful dOnAtiOn is thAT The potenTial recipient truly needs THe requeSteD equiPmenT and has thE exPertisE anD The meaNs to opErate AnD maINTain iT.” wHeN we FoUnd a couple OF StaNding FrAmes SuitablE for children with moRE coMplex physical ImpAirmENT, tHe sTAfF MemBeR Who CARries out the therApy sessionS, jUSt Looked at me PUzzLeD. PerhapS that woUld exPLain why The contaiNer had not BeEn toUCHed Since it arrIved more Than a year AGo?

BacK HoMe, we hAve To have TrAinIng beFore we STarT usinG equipMeNt like This tO eNsure we aRe competent enough to use tHem and That tHe uSer is safe. i unDErsTand that tHis iS not an NHS tRusT in The UK And DUring My tiME hEre i Have bEen vERy conscioUS aBouT NOt Falling into THE TraP of a ‘WEst KNows beSt’ atTitude. But there are SOme things that I Feel SHOulD be UNiveRsAl, such as knowinG hoW
 and we’re not just talkin g about ascrew  or  ast rapthat  can be replac e d ea sily. When a wheelchai r ismi s sing br akesor oneo fi t s b ac kr est  p o le s, or  awalking  frame ismis si ng one of it s  l egs, the e qui pment become s u nsafean d u s eless . I t’s d ifficu l t to g et replac em e nts an d  localt e ch nica l expertise is of t en scarce, so bro ken eq ui p me n t  re mai ns broken. 
The W o rld Hea l th O r gan i zation’s (WHO ) Guideline s  Fo r Heal th  Ca r e Equi pment  D o nat ions states : “T here shou ld ben o doubl e  standa rd inqua lit y. I f  t he  qu al i tyo fani tem  is unac ce pt ablein t h e d onor  co untr y, it  is also unac cep tabl e  as  a do natio n.”
I mage:  WHO
I dou bt  that any equip ment  in thatsta te  wo ul d, or could,  be  us ed in t he dono r  co un t r y ,so why was it acce pt a b le  to ship  it to Ug an d a?

Didth e d onor t hinkthee qu ipment c ould b e  f ix ed loca ll y? Orwa s t hecynic a l vo ice in side ofme on the right trac k , the voice w h ic h sa i d th atAfrica as a  who l e is  oft e nsee n  as a n acc ep t ab l e dumping ground, f ro m haza rdous  waste and se cond-handc l o thing to  ele c tr o nics?

Secondl y, so me of thee quipment  wasnot suit able fort h is setti ng.  Th ere  wa s asupportive ch a i r th at  requir eselectri cit y t o b e m ov ed but th e charge ran dco rdwerem issing.Ev enif  th ey ha d  sentevery thin g,  m o sthomes h e re h aveli tt le o r n oregul ar a c ces s to el ectricity . A g ain,  t he  chairthat might be  s uitable in  a  ho me ors c hool ina European country mayn ot work  in  a sm alltown in U gan da.

T hir d ly, so me ofthe e qu ipm e n t cou l d  b e f ix ed locally i n U ganda ,butit woul d require someonew hounderstands t heequi p m en t a n dh owto mai n t ain it.

The af oremention ed WH O guidelin e s a ls o empha size: “ The m o st impo rtant pre -requisit efora suc cessful do nation i s that th e  pote n ti al re cip ient t ru lyneeds  the r e que stedequipm en t andhas t he  experti se and the means to ope rate a nd ma int ain it.”Whe n  we  found acoup le of stan din g f rames  su i table  for ch ild r en wi th m o re comple x  p hys i c al  impairment , t hestaff  me m ber wh o ca rries out the the r apy sessions,just l ook eda t me  p uzzled. Perhap s t ha t would ex pl ain why the  contain er had n ot bee n touc hed sin c e  i t  arriv ed m ore  than a y ear  a g o?

Bac kho m e, wehave  t o have  train i ng b e f ore we start usi ng eq u i pment lik e thi sto ensu r e we  are compe tent enough  to us e th em an d thatth e user  is  s afe. I und e rstand th at th is is n ot  anNHS  trust  int h e UKanddu rin g my time h er e  I  h a vebeen  very  c onsc ious abou t  not fal lin g  into t he  tr a p  of a‘ We s t  knows bes t’attit u d e. But the r e ar e  s o me th ings t hat Ifeel sh o uld  b e unive rsa l ,  such asknowing h o w
 and_we’re not_just talking about a_screw or_a_strap that_can_be replaced easily._When a wheelchair_is missing brakes or_one of its_backrest_poles, or a walking frame is missing one of its legs, the equipment becomes_unsafe_and useless._It’s_difficult_to get replacements and local_technical expertise is often scarce,_so broken_equipment remains broken.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Guidelines_For_Health Care Equipment_Donations states: “There should be no double standard in_quality. If the quality of an_item is unacceptable_in_the_donor country, it is_also unacceptable as a donation.”

Image: WHO

I_doubt that any equipment in that_state would, or could, be used in_the donor country, so why was_it acceptable to ship it_to Uganda?

Did_the donor think the equipment_could be fixed_locally? Or_was the cynical_voice inside of me on the_right track, the_voice which said that Africa as_a_whole is often_seen_as_an acceptable_dumping ground, from_hazardous_waste and_second-hand_clothing to electronics?

Secondly, some of the_equipment_was not suitable for this setting. There_was a supportive chair_that_requires electricity to be_moved but the charger and_cord were missing. Even if they_had sent_everything, most_homes here have little or no regular access to electricity. Again,_the chair that might be suitable_in a home or_school in_a_European country may_not_work in_a small town in Uganda.

Thirdly, some of_the equipment_could be fixed locally in Uganda,_but it would require_someone_who understands the equipment and how_to maintain it.

The aforementioned WHO guidelines_also emphasize: “The most important_pre-requisite_for_a successful donation is that_the potential recipient truly needs the_requested equipment and_has the expertise and the means to_operate_and maintain it.” When we found_a_couple of standing frames suitable for_children_with_more complex physical impairment, the_staff member who carries out the_therapy sessions, just looked at me puzzled. Perhaps that_would explain why_the container had not been_touched_since_it arrived more than a year ago?

Back home, we have_to have_training before we_start using equipment like this to ensure we are competent_enough to use them and that the_user is safe. I understand that this is not an NHS_trust in the UK and during my time_here I have been very conscious about_not falling into the_trap_of a ‘West knows best’ attitude. But_there_are_some_things that I_feel should be_universal, such as_knowing how