Sincerest season greetings.

Generally my arrival in Kampala at the Ugandan Cancer Institute (UCI) was marked warm reception from other fellows, UCI administration and local mentors as well as our international mentors from IGCS. Though about two weeks late for the program, I hit the ground running with both orientation and working (schooling) at the same time. I was introduced to various key areas of the institution including the general laboratory, the pathology laboratory, the Gyne and medical Oncology clinics, the various tumor centers or Wards (to include liquid tumor center and solid tumor center), the department of chemo and radiation therapies, the clinical staff, theaters, etc. Concomitantly I started seeing patients in the Gyne Oncology clinic, rounding on Gyne Onco patients with senior fellows and mentors as well as assisting in Gyne oncology surgeries  in the first week of my arrival and has continued up to present. I was also introduced to both the local and international tumor board meeting during this period.

Yet a few challenges has been getting to the Cancer institute every morning on time as I have to walk (and from) about 20mins, due to high infection rate of Covid and over charges of fares by vehicle and motorcyclists. However I'm gradually coping with the situation. In addition the language barrier is also a challenges with most of the patient unable to communicate in english, but this is being over come by the presence of a nurse, a fellow Fellow of the program from Uganda, or an accompanying relative who usually brakes the language barrier by interpretation. Covid though conventional,  remains a major challenge as the incident is very high in Uganda. Furthermore, there are situations where some of the admitted patients have been Covid positive, we have come in direct one on one care with them with out knowing. But the religious wearing of facemask and observation of basic health practice and above all God been on my side in these times keep has kept me going and making me to remain courageous until I reach my goals.

Thanks once again to you and your organization for landing me at UCI.

Best regards

Yours truly,

Dr. Deazee M. Saywon

Gyne Oncology Fellow

Uganda Cancer Institute

Kampala, Uganda