The study intensive care unit is a 12-bed unit with the ability to ventilate only six patients at any one time. It provides level II ICU services to all kinds of critically ill patients. Level II care includes mechanical ventilation for longer than 24 h, and specific organ support like dialysis and inotropic infusions. The ICU can provide mechanical ventilation, post-operative care, intermittent haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and basic neurocritical care. The ICU serves Mulago Hospital, which is a 1,500 bed national referral hospital, and Makerere University teaching hospital. The unit was started in the late 90s with a foreign donation and was initially run by a UK trained anaesthesiologist who has since retired. The ICU is currently staffed by three full-time ICU doctors (two internists and an anaesthesiologist) who have undergone further training in higher income countries, and 20 nurses. It receives technical support from the Department of Anaesthesia.