Uganda 2018
Education
Teaching anatomic tissue dissections with histologic correlation. Proper dissection and selection of pathological tissue samples requires training that is lacking in UG. The residents use outdated books to direct them to dissection procedures. Path of Logic provided instruction on-site for all cases encountered during the January visit, as well as a presentation of proper tissue dissection techniques for breast, colon, and uterine tissues, with modifications made to accommodate resource issues.
Enhancement
Correcting the issue inadequate fixation (preservation of tissue). Quality slides, which are required to make quality and accurate diagnoses, require properly preserved patient tissue. Path of Logic provided reusable vessels that the laboratory staff will transfer patient tissue to once it arrives, allowing the proper ratios of fixative to tissue. Proper fixation requires a 20:1 ratio of formaldehyde to tissue volume. In UG, patients provide their own vessels to store their tissue until dissection and processing occurs, which can wait up to a week in containers many times no larger than the tissue itself, which can leave the cells necrotic (non-diagnostic).
Correcting improperly mixed formaldehyde. Just as important as the volume ratio of fixative to the tissue, is the concentration of active fixative (formaldehyde) to water. In the US, we purchase formaldehyde already mixed with buffered water to the correct concentrations. In UG, formaldehyde is purchased as a powder and is estimated by the naked eye. Path of Logic purchased a hydrometer and conduct testing to provide a recipe that will be used in a consistent vessel for accurate and reproducible concentrations of proper fixation.
Encouragement
Stipends were provided to the four residents (physicians training in pathology). Progression in treating cancer, starts with the diagnosis. The Ugandan government encourages certain physician specialties by providing living expense stipends; pathology residents are unpaid. Funds will encourage new residents to enter the field of pathology, and allow the current residents to focus on the highly complicated field of pathology, feeding the forward movement of cancer diagnostics by starting at the roots in education.
Community Project
Path of Logic teamed up with Mpowerd and distributed hundreds of solar lights to homes in rural communities without electricity.
