St. James supports this hospital through the USPG projects scheme. We receive three informative newsletters a year. Here is a precis of the latest.

The annual report tells of a difficult year for St. Luke's, Milo
We share some of the key points from the 2002 annual report from St. Luke's Hospital, Milo. Dr. Lwoga begins:

'There's been a delay in submitting this report because we have been attending workshops in Iringa and Mboya. Please accept my apologies for the delay. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our donors. Without you, it would not have been possible for us to be where we are now. Admittedly, we still have a long way to go in catching up with the rapid progress of our modern world.'

USPG continues to be the major source of income for St. Luke's. Their grant last year amounted to 47.25% of the hospital's income. The grant from the Ministry of Health is intended to cover staff salaries, but in fact only covers half the sum required. USPG's grant is essential.

News in brief
• The rural dispensary at Ludewa was severely damaged by fire last November. The total cost of the repairs will be in the region of £2,000.
• There is a regular supply of piped water, although this becomes less adequate in the hot season. Electricity is available from a diesel-powered generator, which runs for two hours per day. The hospital cannot afford to run it for longer than this, except during emergencies.
• Staff shortages remain an ongoing problem. There are 27 members of staff, and a deficit of 43. This is partly because the hospital cannot afford to pay any more salaries but also because qualified staff find rural practice a less attractive option. Late payment of salaries has been the cause of some resignations.

Please pray for Dr. Lwoga, past retirement age and coping with cancer, and for all his staff. In addition to our annual donation, St. James is sending some extra money to help with repair costs for the dispensary.

Source: The Spire Magazine - 2003 August