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Oeganda
After graduating from St.
Francis School of Health Sciences in Mukono Namataba, Mr. Mathias Ssekabira felt a
strong urge to apply his knowledge. As he began his professional journey, he
aimed to serve the community. Joining Enabel's Work Readiness Programme (WRP) seemed
like a strategic way to achieve this goal.
Mathias was fortunate to
receive coherent instructions in his laboratory practice, particularly soft
skills, from the Kyamaganda Community Development Organization (KCDO) in Lwengo
District. Now, he is impacting the lives of community members as a Medical
Laboratory Officer. KCDO is a local Community-Based Organisation that advances
the lives of vulnerable communities through socio-economic empowerment. At KsDO, Mathias theoretical knowledge of laboratory operations has been put into practice
through phlebotomy, which involves collecting samples from patients, examining
them, and passing them on to the technician for an informed diagnosis.
He has embraced the WRP
opportunity to visualise his future aspirations. “I have acquired communication
and problem-solving skills and can now communicate to patients, counsel HIV
persons, persons suffering from syphilis among others,” says a gratified
Mathias, adding that he has a dream of managing his own facility, which he
hopes will improve health outcomes in the country.
The Programme has also
helped Mathias achieving his potential to handle the challenging task of
delivering unpleasant news to patients about their HIV status. "When a
person tests positive, you have to first prepare them before telling them their
status", he says. He has learned to take the necessary time to gently
prepare patients to receive any kind of news.
He is proud that his work has
significantly helped to reduce the patient overload at his facility, and teamwork
has been his main takeaway from the six-month placement. Grateful for the
opportunity to work with KCDO, he gladly endorses Enabel's Work Readiness Programme to
fellow graduates.
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