Complete Paediatric and Child Health Care Guide – Eastern Uganda

Children are our future. At Michoes Medical Centre in Kanyum, Kumi District, Dr. Adoa Pious – our dedicated Pediatrician and Director of Maternal and Child Health – leads a team providing comprehensive care for children from birth through adolescence. Dr. Adoa established our neonatal unit and runs paediatric outreach clinics in Kumi and Soroti. We serve families from Kumi, Soroti, Bukedea, Ngora, Katakwi, Amuria, Kaberamaido, Pallisa, Tororo, Mbale, and Jinja. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays.

Call to Action: For any child health concern, call +256701364362 or WhatsApp +256779784473. Walk-ins welcome 24/7.

Well-Child Visits – Preventive Care from Birth to Adolescence

Dr. Adoa Pious recommends regular checkups to monitor growth, development, and prevent illness. Schedule at:

• Birth to 1 month: First visit within 48 hours of discharge, then at 2 weeks and 1 month
• Infancy (1-12 months): At 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months
• Early childhood (1-5 years): At 15, 18, 24, 30, 36 months, and annually
• School age (5-12 years): Annually
• Adolescence (12-18 years): Annually

Each visit includes growth measurements, developmental screening, immunizations, nutrition counselling, and safety education.

Call to Action: Book your child’s well-child visit today. Call +256701364362.

Childhood Vaccinations – Protect Your Child from Preventable Diseases

Dr. Adoa Pious follows the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunization (UNEPI) schedule. All vaccines are safe and free at government facilities; we provide them at affordable cost with proper cold chain storage.

• At birth: BCG (tuberculosis), OPV0 (polio), Hepatitis B birth dose
• 6 weeks: OPV1, Penta1 (DPT-HepB-Hib), PCV1, Rota1
• 10 weeks: OPV2, Penta2, PCV2, Rota2
• 14 weeks: OPV3, Penta3, PCV3, IPV, Rota3
• 9 months: Measles-Rubella1, Yellow Fever, Vitamin A dose 1
• 18 months: Measles-Rubella2, DPT booster, Vitamin A dose 2
• 4-5 years: OPV booster, DPT booster
• 10 years: Td (tetanus-diphtheria), HPV (girls, 2 doses)

Call to Action: Bring your child’s vaccination card. Call +256701364362 for vaccine appointment or walk in.

Common Childhood Illnesses – Diagnosis and Treatment

Dr. Adoa Pious diagnoses and treats:

Malaria in Children

Most common cause of fever in Eastern Uganda. Symptoms: fever, chills, headache, vomiting, weakness, refusal to eat. Severe signs: convulsions, difficulty breathing, drowsiness, dark urine. We test with rapid test or microscopy and treat with artemisinin-based combination therapy. Severe malaria requires injectable artesunate and admission.

Call to Action: Any child with fever – test for malaria immediately. Call +256701364362.

Pneumonia – Leading Cause of Child Death

Fast breathing, chest indrawing, fever, cough, difficulty feeding. We treat with antibiotics (oral or injectable) and oxygen if needed. Seek care immediately – pneumonia kills quickly.

Call to Action: If your child breathes fast or struggles to breathe, come to Michoes immediately or call +256701364362.

Diarrhoea and Dehydration

Rotavirus, bacterial infections, or parasites cause diarrhoea. Danger signs: sunken eyes, dry mouth, no tears, reduced urination, lethargy. Treatment: oral rehydration solution (ORS), zinc, continued feeding. Severe cases need IV fluids.

Call to Action: Give ORS immediately and bring child to Michoes for assessment. Call +256701364362.

Malnutrition – Wasting and Stunting

Common in Eastern Uganda. Signs: thin arms, swollen feet (kwashiorkor), growth failure, frequent infections. Dr. Adoa Pious provides therapeutic feeding, micronutrients, deworming, and family counselling. Severe malnutrition requires inpatient care with F-75 and F-100 therapeutic milks.

Call to Action: If your child is not growing or has swollen feet, call +256701364362 for nutrition support.

Neonatal Care – Newborn Health (First 28 Days)

Dr. Adoa Pious established our neonatal unit. We treat:

• Prematurity – kangaroo mother care, warmth, feeding support
• Birth asphyxia – resuscitation, cooling therapy when indicated
• Neonatal jaundice – phototherapy, exchange transfusion if severe
• Newborn infections – antibiotics for sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis
• Low birth weight – intensive monitoring and feeding
• Congenital abnormalities – assessment and referral when needed

Call to Action: If your newborn has fever, poor feeding, fast breathing, yellow skin, or lethargy, call +256701364362 immediately.

Child Development Milestones – What to Expect

Dr. Adoa Pious screens for developmental delays at every visit. Call if concerned:

• 2 months: Smiles, follows faces, holds head up
• 4 months: Laughs, reaches for toys, bears weight on legs
• 6 months: Sits with support, babbles, rolls over
• 9 months: Sits alone, crawls, says “mama/baba”
• 12 months: Stands, walks with help, says 1-2 words
• 18 months: Walks alone, speaks several words, points
• 2 years: Runs, speaks 2-word sentences, follows simple commands
• 3 years: Hops, speaks 3-5 word sentences, dresses with help
• 4 years: Tells stories, plays with other children, draws shapes
• 5 years: Prints letters, counts, dresses independently

Call to Action: Concerned about your child’s development? Call +256701364362 for a developmental assessment.

Nutrition and Growth Monitoring

Dr. Adoa Pious provides:

• Exclusive breastfeeding counselling – breastmilk only for first 6 months
• Complementary feeding guidance – introduce safe, nutritious foods at 6 months
• Growth chart plotting – weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height
• Treatment for underweight, stunting, and wasting
• Vitamin A supplementation every 6 months from 6 months to 5 years
• Iron and folic acid for older children and adolescents
• Deworming every 6 months from 1 year

Call to Action: Bring your child for monthly growth monitoring. Call +256701364362.

Paediatric Emergencies – 24/7 Child Emergency Care

Our emergency department is staffed 24/7 for children. Go to Michoes immediately if your child has:

• Difficulty breathing or fast breathing
• Seizures (convulsions)
• Unconsciousness or lethargy
• Severe dehydration (no urine for 8+ hours)
• Persistent vomiting (cannot keep anything down)
• High fever (over 39°C or 102°F) with stiff neck or rash
• Severe injury, burn, or suspected fracture
• Ingestion of poison or medication overdose

Call to Action: For any child emergency, call +256701364362 while en route to Michoes. Do not delay.

Adolescent Health – Confidential Care for Teenagers

Dr. Adoa Pious provides confidential, respectful care for adolescents (10-19 years):

• Puberty and sexual health education
• Menstrual problems – pain, irregular cycles, heavy bleeding
• Acne management
• Mental health – anxiety, depression, stress, suicidal thoughts
• Contraception and pregnancy prevention
• Sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment
• Nutrition and body image concerns including eating disorders
• Substance use counselling (alcohol, marijuana, khat/miraa)

Call to Action: Teenagers need care too. Call +256701364362 to book a confidential appointment with Dr. Adoa Pious.

On-Site Laboratory for Children

Okello John Bosco leads our laboratory team. Paediatric tests include:

• Malaria rapid test and microscopy – results in 30 minutes
• Complete blood count – anaemia, infection markers
• Blood glucose – hypoglycaemia in sick children
• Typhoid and brucella testing
• Urinalysis – urinary tract infections
• Stool analysis – parasites, blood, rotavirus
• HIV rapid test with counselling for exposed infants and adolescents
• Sickle cell screening

Call to Action: Walk in for any child lab test. No appointment needed. Child-friendly sample collection.

Paediatric Outreach Clinics – Kumi and Soroti

Dr. Adoa Pious runs regular outreach clinics:

• Kumi Main Market area – first Tuesday of each month
• Soroti City – third Thursday of each month
• Bukedea Town – last Friday of each month

At outreach, we provide vaccinations, growth monitoring, malaria testing, deworming, Vitamin A, and basic treatment. Bring your child’s vaccination card.

Call to Action: Ask about outreach clinic dates. Call +256701364362.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Health in Eastern Uganda

How often should I bring my child for checkups?

At least 5 times in first year, then annually. Children with chronic illness need more frequent visits.

Are vaccines safe?

Yes. Vaccines prevent deadly diseases. Side effects are mild (fever, soreness). Serious reactions are extremely rare.

My child has fever. What should I do?

Test for malaria. Do not give aspirin (can cause Reye syndrome). Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is safe. Bring to Michoes for proper diagnosis.

How do I know if my child is dehydrated?

Dry mouth, no tears when crying, sunken eyes, reduced urination (less than 4 wet nappies in 24 hours), lethargy. Give ORS immediately and come to Michoes.

What is kangaroo mother care?

Skin-to-skin contact between mother and premature/low birth weight baby. Keeps baby warm, stabilises breathing, improves breastfeeding, reduces infections.

My child is not walking at 18 months. Is this normal?

Some children walk later, but delayed walking may indicate a problem. See Dr. Adoa Pious for assessment.

Do you treat sickle cell disease?

Yes. We provide folic acid, pain management, infection prevention (penicillin, vaccines), and hydroxyurea for severe cases.

How can I prevent my child from getting malaria?

Insecticide-treated nets every night, indoor spraying when done in your district, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (for unborn baby), and prompt testing for fever.

Contact Michoes Medical Centre for Paediatric and Child Health Care

Address: Kanyum, Kumi District, Eastern Uganda. P.O. Box 22, Kanyum, Kumi. Near Kumi Main Market. Accessible from Kumi-Soroti Highway.

Phone (24/7 emergency line): +256701364362

WhatsApp: +256779784473

Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays.

Call to Action: For well-child visits, vaccinations, sick child care, or any paediatric concern, call +256701364362 or walk into Michoes Medical Centre in Kanyum. Dr. Adoa Pious and our paediatric team are here for your family – day or night.