Transforming Lives: The Impact of SSHJM in Amuru District

For 18 years, the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SSHJM) have dedicated their lives to serving the Amuru district in Northern Uganda, a region plagued by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebellion for over two decades. This prolonged conflict has left the area in chronic poverty, with limited health facilities leading to a high incidence of children born with disabilities, often neglected by their families and communities.

The NLW fund supports SSHJM and the Women and Children First Organisation (WACFO) in their rehabilitation projects. These projects aim to provide corrective surgeries to improve the mobility of children with treatable disabilities such as clubfoot, bow legs, knock knees, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, cleft lips, and contractures. This is achieved through collaboration with expert surgeons from St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Gulu Independent Hospital, Lira Medical Centre, and Cure Hospital in Mbale.

One remarkable story is that of Beatrice Ajok, a bright and cheerful girl whose education was disrupted due to her clubfoot condition. Stigmatized by her peers, Beatrice dropped out of school in 2021. She was identified by CBR volunteers trained by the WACFO health team and referred to the Guadalupe Rehabilitation Center. There, she was sent to St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor for surgical intervention by orthopedic specialists.

Today, Beatrice enjoys improved mobility, is well-nourished, and radiates confidence. Her transformation has astonished her community, who once saw her condition as a hopeless case, now considering her recovery a miracle. Neighbors now welcome her family, and she is embraced by her community, friends, and family who are inspired by her story. "I am now free, happy, and no longer ashamed of myself as I was in the past. I believe my dream of becoming a nurse will now come true, thanks to God and WACFO," Beatrice says. She is eagerly looking forward to returning to school next year.