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Mak-UZH symposium tackles One-health from different perspectives

Published

8 years ago

July 10, 2014

Mark Wamai

The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang (L) chats with Prof. Dr. Daniel Wyler-Vice President for Medicine and Science, University of Zurich during the One-Health Symposium, 7th to 8th July 2014, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

Makerere University and the University of Zurich (UZH) held a two-day health-focused symposium aimed at strengthening the existing collaborations and paving way for new research partnerships.

The symposium which ran from 7th to 8th July 2014 brought together faculty, research teams and scholars from the University of Zurich, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) to share ideas and knowledge premised on the theme, One health from different perspectives.

The symposium was held in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Makerere and the University of Zurich in 2008, as a foundation for the North-South cooperation, which promotes exchange of knowledge and mutual intercultural learning through supporting sustainably well-conceived research projects, teaching and institutional capacity development.

Opening the symposium on 7th July 2014, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang reported that, as a result of MAK-UZH partnership, there are a number of active collaborations between both institutions. These include partnership with: The College of Health Sciences/Infectious Diseases Institute; the SOUTH study that is currently implemented in partnership with the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI); Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB); and the School of Languages, Literature and Communication and Department of Philosophy both under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS).

“Convening here today represents a great commitment from both institutions, and I would like to urge the two partners to maintain their mutual collaboration, for the future academic excellence,” remarked Dr. Okello Ogwang, who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Makerere University. He also encouraged the participants to use the symposium to explore and facilitate new research collaborations.

Recounting the formative stages of the partnership, the Principal College of Health Sciences Professor Nelson Sewankambo, then Dean, Faculty of Medicine, expressed his pleasure at having been part of the team that visited UZH, and successfully negotiated the terms that culminated into the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding in 2008. “I am therefore delighted to be part of this health-focused symposium today, as both institutions seek to strengthen the existing collaboration, and dialogue on the possibility of widening the partnership to encompass other academic disciplines,” he remarked.

Professor Sewakambo, also re-echoed to all partners and participants attending the symposium in the Makerere University Main Hall the need to uphold the clause on mutually beneficial engagements as this collaboration continues to grow.

Dr. Daniel Wyler, Vice President, University of Zurich (UZH) appreciated the partnership with Makerere University and reiterated, UZH’s support to research backed by the mutually beneficial activities as sealed by the MoU.

“I am really sure that this time, taking part in health issues affecting humans like the infectious disease is more important. Therefore I would like to encourage all researchers in both universities to engage in different research on both the environment and humans in a bid to reduce the rate transmission of infectious diseases in our countries,” he said.

The Executive Director, Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), CHS, Makerere University Dr. Alex Coutinho highlighted that the symposium offered a great learning platform to science researchers in all health disciplines and expressed his belief that after the two days, participants and delegates alike would have acquired more knowledge.

Giving the day’s keynote address, Professor John David Kabasa, the Principal, CoVAB emphasized that the term health refers to the total wellbeing of the individual and appealed to participants to embrace a multi-disciplinary approach to research and problems affecting humanity and society in general. With reference to Makerere’s ten year strategic plan, which stipulates the need for the University to reposition herself to meet emerging development challenges, Professor Kabasa encouraged academicians, scholars and participants in the symposium to embrace the paradigm shift from the ivory tower mentality to one of knowledge transfer partnerships with the community. He further encouraged the audience to align their collaborative activities in, teaching and learning, research and innovations to those of a development-focused university.

The audience which had for the entire duration of morning sessions been captivated by the well-researched presentations on ideology, cause and implications of infectious diseases then had the chance to engage the panelists in a lively academic debate. Professor John David Kabasa, Prof. Dr. Paul Torgeson, Head of Epidemiology at the Vetsuisse Faculty, UZH and Dr. Taurai Tasara, Head of the Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, UZH made up the panel that took on a broad range of questions from the eager audience.

The 7th July 2014 symposium programme climaxed with site visits to the Makerere University College of Health Sciencess, the Infectious Diseases Institute, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity. The afternoon site visits, were aimed at sharing discipline-specific knowledge cognizant of the expectations of respective units.

At the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Dr. Clovice Kankya guided the participants on a tour of the teaching and research facilities such as the Small Animal Clinic, One-Health residency office, Avian Influenza laboratory among other facilities.

Article by: Ritah Namisango, Public Relations Office

General

Makerere University Launches National Parenting Draft Manual

Published

19 hours ago

October 3, 2022

Mak Editor

The Director of Culture at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ms. Juliana Naumo Akoryo (Centre) and Dr. Godfrey Siu, the Principal Investigator from Mak-CHDC (Right) interact with a participant at the workshop on 22nd July 2022, Kampala.

_{By Agnes Namaganda}

On July 22^nd 2022, Makerere University–Child Health and Development Centre (Mak–CHDC) launched a draft manual for the National Parenting Standards. The Centre has been working together with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) with funding from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund), to develop standards that are agreeable to all organisations in the country that are involved in parenting work. The draft manual was being presented to members of a consortium that brings together all these organisations together, called the Parenting Agenda Consortium.

“We produce many documents and they are shelved,” Irene Ayot Chono, who was speaking on behalf of UNICEF said. “We hope that this document will not be one of them,” she emphasized.

Irene Ayot Chono-UNICEF, urging participants to utilize the manual once it is complete.

Dr. Godfrey Siu, the Principal Investigator from Mak-CHDC who presented the draft manual to participants, emphasized that if any organization is doing parenting work, there should be a minimum package that they should offer.

Draft Manual Content

The manual which will have several modules. These modules will be delivered face-to-face in 1.5 hour sessions. Some of these include; Module 6 which will focus on “understanding responsible masculinity and fatherhood” and on “understanding the concept of head of family.”The draft manual also proposed that Module 11 focuses on Parenting in the 21^st Century. Some of the sessions in this module will include Children and Technology, Contemporary Influence on Children and Modernity, Culture and Morality.Module 9 will focus on Parenting for Adolescents and some of the suggested sessions within this module are Needs for Adolescents and The Art of Communicating with Adolescents. Module 5 will focus on Preventing Violent Parenting and Promoting Alternative Discipline Strategies while Module 10 will be about Parenting to Address the Mental Health for Children and Adults.

Dr. Godfrey Siu, the Principal Investigator from Mak-CHDC presenting the contents of the National Parenting Standards Draft Manual.

Participants’ suggestions

After the presentation, participants raised several suggestions for discussion and consideration. These included whether there should be a module on spirituality since Uganda is a strongly religious nation. There was also the concern of how children in remand homes should be parented. Another concern raised by a participant was as to whether teachers who make an undeniable contribution to parenting, should be taken through the parenting manual.

A participant gives her input at the National Parenting Standards Draft Manual launch.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Juliana Naumo Akoryo, the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) said that the manual is for the parenting organisations to utilize and not for MGLSD.

The Director of Culture at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ms. Juliana Naumo Akoryo making closing remarks at the workshop.

Ms. Chono also adjured the team behind the manual to use picture illustrations in the manual that can be relatable by the Ugandan parents.

Contact: Agnes Namaganda – agnesvioletnamaganda@gmail.com

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Launch of Mak-RIF Round 4 Awards & PhD Call for Proposals

Published

6 days ago

September 28, 2022

Mak Editor

Mak-RIF 4 Awards and PhD Call For Proposals, 29th September 2022, 9:00 to 10:00 AM EAT.

Makerere University received funding from the Government of the Republic of Uganda, earmarked to support high impact Research and Innovations. This unique initiative arose after engagements between the top University Management and the Government of Uganda. This fund illustrates the increasing importance that the Government attaches to Research and Innovation as a driver of development and transformation. The objective of the fund is to increase the local generation of translatable research and scalable innovations that address key gaps required to drive Uganda’s development agenda.

In the Financial years 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 the Government of the Republic of Uganda through Mak-RIF has funded implementation of over 750 multidisciplinary research and innovations within the various Colleges, while engaging multiple stakeholders within and outside Makerere University. The Grants Management Committee (GMC) has finalized the award process for the Mak-RIF round 4 call for funding for this Financial Year 2022/2023.

The Grants Management Committee (GMC) hereby invites you to the Launch of the Mak-RIF Round 4 awards and PhD Call for Proposals scheduled to take place tomorrow Thursday 29^th September 2022 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. EAT.

Please use the following details to join the launch.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcu-urDIjE9ZgxdsbEmA2IkNMMiJVECt_
Meeting ID: 884 5662 9992
Password: 292624

General

Notice: Makerere Disability Scheme 2022/23 Medical Review Exercise

Published

7 days ago

September 27, 2022

Mak Editor

One of the PWD graduands at the 69th Graduation during the Session held on 17th January 2019.

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites persons with disability who applied for admission to public universities under the disability entry scheme for 2022/2023 Academic Year to appear for medical/review exercise at Makerere Unive, Senate Building, Level Two (2) in the Telepresence Centre.

NOTE: Only those who have the minimum entry requirements of at least two principal passes at A’ Level or its equivalent and at least five (5) passes at O’ Level or its equivalent will be interviewed.

Only candidates who sat ‘a’ level in 2020, 2019 and 2018 are eligible for admission.

THE EXERCISE WILL BE CONDUCTED ON 3rd, 4^th and 5^th October, 2022 respectively from 9.00 A.M – 1.00 P.M each day.

IMPORTANT:

(i) If you fail to appear on any of the given days above, there will be no other chance for you.

(ii) Applicants with Government Scholarship for the previous years are not eligible for admission

ALFRED MASIKYE NAMOAH

Acting. ACADEMIC REGISTRAR