New Vision (Kampala) - December 5, 2008
Susan Muyiyi

For the last five years, Wanyenze has worked closely with HIV/ AIDS patients under the Mulago-Mbarara teaching schools joint AIDS program based in Kampala.

"It was fun to treat patients and see their health improve. It was depressing to lose a patient on your ward. There was a connection with the patients because I got to know their families. When a woman succumbed to the disease, she wasn't just a patient, but a mother with children. Who would take care of them?" Wanyenze says.

She tries not to get emotional but, "as a human being, it is hard." There was also the frustration of not being able to help because anti-retroviral drugs were initially scarce and too expensive for the ordinary Ugandan.

Wanyenze never dreamt of being a doctor. "My favourite subject was literature. I could have easily become a lawyer. But at the time I went to school, there was a government effort to encourage girls to do sciences so I studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology at A'level, even though I had scored highly in the arts subjects." Even as a doctor, she was not initially passionate about working in the HIV field.

"Though, as a doctor, it was inevitable because HIV is widespread. However, I am not complaining. I preferred clinical medicine because surgery, which was my specialty, revolved around blood in the theatre," she adds.Nevermind that clinical work was much busier. "I saw about 80 patients a day. I wonder how I coped because I didn't feel the load."

The transition from clinical to research and management was not hard but Wanyenze missed seeing patients. There is still a lot of work in her new field but Wanyenze has resolved to slow down. "I don't stay at office late unless it is absolutely necessary. For most of the last three years I found my daughter sleeping when I returned home from work. I don't want to wake up when she is a teenager only to find that I don't know who she is."

When Wanyenze is home, she shuts out office affairs to savour the precious time available to bond with her family and friends. From working with HIV positive people, she has learnt a strong personal lesson. "I appreciate life, especially being healthy," she says.

Dr. Damalie Nakanjako, who runs the HIV Clinic at Mulago Hospital, is a physician at the Faculty of Medicine and an HIV researcher at the Infectious Diseases Institute.

Working in the biggest ward in the hospital is no piece of cake for this soft-spoken doctor.

"The workload is over whelming. What is even more worrying is the fact that many patients come for treatment when the disease is already in its advanced stages," she says.

The hectic workload aside, Nakanjako has always wanted to be a doctor. "I have always desired to help people and so I aligned myself to study medicine and I have no regrets."

By 8:00am, Nakanjako is already at work attending meetings shortly after which she sees patients and later in the afternoon carries out research.

If you ask her, Uganda is going to win the battle against HIV despite frustrations like patients dying because they did report for treatment earlier. "I believe that once we overcome the challenges we face today, we are headed for greater victories," the 33-year-old wife and mother enthuses.

How does this super driven doctor balance work and family? "There is always the temptation to carry some work home or leave late. I am seriously drawing up a time table which I must stick to."

To keep in shape, Nakanjako exercises and eats healthy. For a proper perspective on life, Nakajanko draws strength from her faith in God.

Dr. Edith Nakku works at the Mulago STD Clinic, lectures at the school of Public Health in Mulago, consultants with Straight Talk Foundation and is involved in HIV/AIDS research at the Infectious Disease Institute. Currently, Nakku is part of the team involved in testing a pill, which if successful, will reduce the risk of new HIV infections and also help discordant couples have children with minimum risk.

"Discordance is an emerging reality which has to be addressed. We encourage couples to test together. It is wrong to assume that a person whose partner is HIV positive is automatically infected," Nakku explains.

According to her, there is extra drive needed as a woman working in the research field. "It is loads of work, involving paper work and team coordination."

Nakku's day starts with dropping children at school, meeting with research assistants to discuss emerging issues and the scope of work and correspondence for about two hours. She sees patients for about an hour.

"The day goes by so fast. Before you know it, a new day has begun and you have not done everything you had planned to do," Nakku, a mother of three says.

"Since I travel a lot, I take my children when they are on holiday. When I am around, I try to be home as early as 6:00pm so as to catch up with my family before they go to sleep. I give them my best. My husband is a very good help when it comes to the children. He understands the nature of my job."

At forty years of age, Nakku attributes her smooth skin to a life without makeup.

"That is some of the best advice concerning my health I received from my mother. 'Don't use it,' she cautioned, 'because it causes wrinkles.' I use baby jelly on my skin."

Forgiving people and her Christian faith are her pillars of strength. Working in the HIV/Aids field was not easy for her at the beginning.

"It was difficult when I had just started. There were no drugs. However, our lecturers gave us an insight into the disease which has helped me cope. HIV is just like any other disease; treat the opportunist infections as soon as they show."

With counselling from TASO, she got a different perception of how to handle the disease, which does not leave her drained. She has friends who are counsellors. But most importantly, "I talk to my husband about everything that bothers me. My siblings and mother are also my counsellors." In her free time, she reads biographies and books on philosophy. Wise quotes make her day.

Doctor Sabrina Kitaka is a paediatric infectious disease specialist. She is in charge of the adolescent programmes at Paediatrics Infectious Diseases Clinic at Mulago Hospital, the project leader of ARROW (antiretroviral therapy for Watoto (children) and a lecturer.

"It is a lot of work, but I have never thought about it as a burden," she says. When she is not Dr. Kitaka, she plays chef or party planner. "I prepare three course meals on Sundays, the only day I stay home. I love to entertain and will probably go to lengths to see people happy. I like organising parties. It is a responsibility I embarked on in my department (Pediatrics)," says the vibrant doctor.

A mother and aunt to her sister's children, Kitaka loves children and this is the reason her job is a joy and sometimes a heartache. "I get satisfaction when a patient I have treated makes a full recovery; the smile on the mother's face makes my day." However, undesirable things like a patient failing to adhere to treatment do happen.

"The children under my care are between 12 and 24 years and the majority of them were born with HIV. This means they have to take drugs on a daily basis. It is not easy thing for them."

The talkative doctor loves having fun with family and friends. That is why every Christmas break, she makes sure she has quality time with them.

But one of these quiet moments was interrupted on a Valentines Day when there was a bomb in the city and she was asked to help, which meant leaving her husband for a few hours.

"He has been very supportive, otherwise I would have been seated at home. I also plan my schedule and keep a diary to be able to handle all my responsibilities."

To keep fit Kitaka plays tennis and swims in order to tone her muscles. She loves Juliana's voice and Chameleon's music. She also loves to cook elaborately.

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