Mengo Hospital - Dental Clinic

Who are we?


The Committee:

The Friends of Mengo Hospital committee includes members with very different skills, all of which can contribute to supporting the needs of Mengo Hospital.

We have 4 medical doctors who have been invaluable in helping to choose, in cooperation with the doctors at Mengo, the equipment for refitting the operating theatres, as well as assisting with training of clinicians.

An electrical engineer with vast experience of installing electrical installations in the UK and small hydroelectric plants at hospitals in Africa. We can also boast teachers and a chartered surveyor.

Read more about the committee members below:

Mr John Dalton – Chair

Dr John Dalton

I am an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist based in Leeds and am excited by the developing partnership between Mengo and Leeds. I first visited Mengo in 2005 using a travel grant from Peterhouse, Cambridge and it was at that time I first developed an interest in obstetrics and gynaecology. Since falling in love with Uganda at that first visit I have developed a passion for global health and indeed the work of Mengo Hospital. I’ve had the good fortune to visit Uganda and Kenya on regular occasions on projects with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. I look forward to continuing to partner with he team at Mengo as well as Mengo Hospital Partners who are the friends group in the USA.

Dr Anna Littlejohns

Anna Littlejohns

I am delighted to have joined the Friends of Mengo Hospital committee. I first visited Mengo for my elective placement as a medical student and enjoyed time at Mengo Hospital, where I was mainly based in the Mpereza maternity unit. I think there is something very special about the hospital and the staff and I have huge admiration for the work done at Mengo.

I am currently a junior doctor training in intensive care and anaesthetics in Leeds. I have already fulfilled my desire to return to Mengo on several occasions and I am greatly looking forwards to working more closely with Mengo as a trustee of the charity.

Miss Emily Cook

Miss Emily Cook

I have been on the committee of FOM-UK since 2009 and have always had a special interest in Mengo as my grandfather was Jack Cook, brother of Sir Albert Cook the founder of Mengo Hospital. He was also a missionary doctor and worked alongside Albert for 20 years.

I have followed the family tradition of medicine and am currently approaching the end of my training in general surgery. I have visited Mengo myself three times and am particularly excited by the recent refurbishment of the operating theatres which will make such a difference to the hospital.

Paul Darrall

Paul Darrall

I first visited Mengo in 1970 when I was a student, hosted by John Whitlock who was at Mengo then, and until recently on the committee. John then took me to Kisiizi, and I continued with Ruanda Mission into Rwanda and Burundi. I think John knew that the X-ray machine had arrived at Buye Hospital, and I was able to install it, thanks to having spent a day with Philips Medical before I set off, at John's suggestion.

My job is as a high voltage electrical distribution engineer with Scottish and Southern Energy, although I have formally retired and now work part time, and only when I'm not in Africa! The electrical network at Mengo is in a dreadful state, but I try to advise on priorities for overcoming the many problems, and how to supply the new equipment adequately.

Being non-medical it is hard for me to assess the work being done by Mengo, but the place always seems busy, so they must be doing a good job!

I visited in July 2012, but for less than a day, while a team from my church were helping at an orphanage near Mukono. I like to visit whenever I am in Kampala, which is more often since I retired, but usually once a year. I was staying at Mengo when a bomb killed about 70 people watching the Football World Cup at the Rugby Club in Kampala, but Mengo is so insulated that people in UK knew about it before I did, and Mengo was unaffected.

Dr Sheck Matsiko

Dr Sheck Matsiko

I worked as a medical officer at Mengo from 1980 to 1982 and was appointed a consultant Physician at the hospital in 1993, though I never took up the post.

I am married to Peace and have 3 grown up children and now live in Lincolnshire where I am a consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist at Grantham & District Hospital.

Particular Interest in modernisation of medical services at Mengo and postgraduate medical education.

Keen to see Mengo at the forefront of innovation and modernisation.

Richard Oliver

Richard Oliver

I was born at Mengo hospital in April 1962, just prior to Independence under Prime Minister Obote. My parents, Dr Hugh and Mrs Gwen Oliver were missionaries with The Church of Uganda and both heavily involved in the hospital with my father eventually becoming the Medical Superintendent. I enjoyed a very happy childhood initially alongside my elder brother and sister, David and Alison, and later joined by three younger brothers, Anthony and Peter and Michael ("the twins"). A true "African family"!

For much of my time in Uganda, I remember a very settled childhood, being parentally insulated by the leadership power struggles that raged around us. I remember being aware of "bangs and crashes" on the occasions when the dispute was localised, such as 1966 during the "Battle of Mengo Hill" evicting Mutesa II and also the toppling of Obote by Idi Amin Dada in 1971.

I lovingly remember the highly amiable climate, the day beginning and ending with amazing sunrises and sunsets, the rainy season and the droughts during dryer periods, running barefoot everywhere but having to wear sandals to Nakasero Primary School, swimming at the International Hotel (sometimes alongside the President himself!), holidays camping at Lake Nabugabo or on occasion in Kenya and the cold of returning to the UK for "leave".

In 1974 I joined my elder brother at boarding school near Liverpool and although this was my choice, most of my time there was spent wishing I was at home in Mengo. In 1976, after enduring as much of Idi Amin's reign and the associated "difficulties" that accompanied him, my parents returned to Cambridge to rebuild our family life together.

I did return to Uganda in May 1988, as an independent traveller for two months, and enjoyed working as a volunteer at an orphanage in Luwero. This time I was distinctly aware of the atrocities that the local people had endured in their recent history.

Armed with great memories of Mengo it was not really a difficult decision to join the Friends of Mengo Hospital committee and eventually to take over the post of treasurer. I feel very privileged to be part of a caring community that wants to see the hospital continue in its Christian witness of healing to the local people. It is amazing to see how your kind donations combine to improve both the facilities and working environment at the hospital.

After every committee meeting I leave determined to return "home", having been fired up by the positive reports of visiting members to the hospital and the vital work yet to be completed.

I finally returned home as you can see from Anthony's photograph below, and we had a fantastic welcome.

Anthony Oliver

Anthony Oliver

Photo: Anthony & Richard Oliver at what used to be called Nsangi View in the days when they lived there.

I was born in 1965 at Mengo Hospital and lived in various houses on the hill under the shadow of Namirembe cathedral until I was 11. At that point my parents Hugh and Gwen Oliver returned to England and my teenage years were spent in Great Shelford south of Cambridge. In 2017 I returned to Uganda with my two sons and my brother Richard's family for the first time in 41 years. The welcome we received at Mengo Hospital as both Olivers and representatives of Friends of Mengo was truly humbling. Today the hospital is a multi million pound operation but the senior leadership took the time to show their appreciation for the support that Friends of Mengo provide.

I now live in Cheltenham and work as a freelance fundraiser working mainly with small, community based charities often attached to churches or parishes. I also specialise in preparing for major capital campaigns.

It is a privilege to serve Mengo Hospital as a member of the Friends of Mengo committee.

Miss Helen Please

Helen Please

Helen Please is a surgical registrar in the Oxfordshire deanery with a keen interest in global surgery, and is the president of GASOC for 2023 (the Global Anaesthesia, Surgery and Obstetric trainee Collaboration). She has long- standing ties with Africa, and spent 6 months working at Mengo in 2022 embedded clinically in the General Surgery department. Whilst there she helped establish the Mengo-Leeds surgical collaborative, and ran a virtual reality surgical training conference which involved a number of local and international collaborators (including VRiMS, GASOC, Mengo, UCU and Makerere Universities).

She is passionate about increasing the academic work at Mengo, which has involved establishing a regular surgical journal club between Mengo and Leeds, involvement with the LeVe CPAP anesthesia project, and support of medical students on elective from Leeds University to Mengo in academic pursuits. Her other work in Africa has included clinical, research and educational work in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Cameroon, and South Africa. Outside of medicine she is a passionate 'lindy hop' dancer, enjoys studying theology, and all-weather cycling.

Clive Kennett

Clive Kennet

I became a supporter of Mengo after a couple came to my church in Bitton near Bristol about 25 years ago to talk about their time on a medical elective at the hospital.

Three years ago I decided to find out more about Mengo and emailed the hospital to see whether they could use my skills as a surveyor ( not imagining that they would have a job for a chartered surveyor who surveys houses).

They asked me to draw a plan of the 23 acre site and after some deliberation I arrived in Uganda, was greeted by hospital staff at the airport and was soon at the comfortable bungalow in the grounds of the hospital for Friends of Mengo volunteers. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming.

The needs of people in Ugandans are so great and most have nothing. The experience changed my life.

I managed to complete the plan and when I returned to the UK I wanted to get involved and joined the committee. I now edit Mengo Notes and see the positive effect that your donations make to the people of Uganda.

Peace Matsiko

Peace Matsiko

I'm married to Dr Sheck Matsiko and God has blessed us with three children.

I completed my degree and teacher training at Southlands College in Wimbledon in 1982 and have taught in comprehensive secondary schools in London, Cambridge and Newark where we now live.

I was born at Mengo Hospital in 1956 hence my interest and fascination with the hospital. We lived in Mukono at Bishop Tucker College, where my parents worked. Namirembe hill was our second home - it was a familiar and safe haven. My parents took us along with them whenever they attended the Friday evening Barokore meetings at Namirembe; their friends and colleagues became our wider family. It was an idyllic and happy childhood.

My late dad, Bishop Yustasi Ruhindi, took an active interest in Mengo hospital for many years.

Also over the years numerous close relatives have been treated and cared for at the Hospital. In 1982, after our wedding, Sheck and I spent a few weeks at Mengo where he was a junior doctor. We formed friendships with folk that have lasted.

On my retirement from full time teaching, it seemed the natural thing to support the hospital that holds these special memories- so I decided to join Sheck in his long standing support of Friends of Mengo Hospital. I am hugely inspired by the work of the friends here in the UK and abroad, who have tirelessly supported the hospital.

I have much to give and I am ready and keen to explore opportunities where I can help in advancing developments at Mengo as God reveals them.

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" - C.S. Lewis

Background

The UK Friends of Mengo Hospital began in 1959 when the first issue of Mengo Notes was printed and circulated to 1000 friends, supporters, employees and ex-employees. The "Friends" became all those who responded to this initial mailing. Mengo Notes is free, published annually and sent to anyone who is interested in Mengo Hospital. Please email [email protected] for your free copy. Alternatively, download a copy from this site.

Aims

UK Friends of Mengo gained official charitable status in 1983 with the following aims:

"Safeguarding the rights of others is the most noble and beautiful end of a human being" - Kahlil Gibran

In 1983 Friends of Mengo UK became an 'official group' with charitable status.

.