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Mak wins sub-Saharan Africa Ebola Grand Challenge Design Award

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The ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) and School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University are set to design the next generation ergonomic tent to support humanitarian service delivery.

RAN’s (www.ranlab.org) proposed solution is a redesigned Ebola treatment tent that aims to substantially change the working environment for health care workers through its ergonomic design which allows for a significant increase in airflow and decrease in ambient temperatures in hot climatic conditions.

Prof. William Bazeyo and Dr. Roy William Mayega from School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences (CHS), will lead a team of students and faculty teamed up with those from the College of Engineering, Design Art and Technology (CEDAT) to design the next generation tent to support humanitarian service delivery. The redesigned tent keeps the favorable features of current designs (simplicity, cheapness and structural safety) while re-imagining and re-engineering the mechanisms for heat and air exchange within, through integration of a convectional currents mechanism and porous walls. The change in ambient environment will have three major advantages over the current ones namely; improved patient management by reducing the heat stress faced by healthcare workers wearing heavy PPE materials, improved comfort for the patients and amenability to ‘plug-in’ accessories to support human-led service delivery, or “portable hospitals.”

Structural view of the redesigned Ebola treatment tent by School of Public Health, CHS and CEDAT that aims to substantially change the working environment for health care workers, February 2015, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched Fighting Ebola: A Grand Challenge for Development in partnership with the White House Office of Science and Technology, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Defense to help health care workers provide better care and contain this devastating virus.In just two months, innovators from around the world submitted over 1,500 ideas focused on helping frontline health care workers to provide better, more timely care and to contain this devastating virus. Through a collaborative and rigorous expert review, the Fighting Ebola Grand Challenge Team has identified a dozen additional innovations that address existing gaps in the current Ebola response.  In all a total of 15 innovations have been nominated for award to date.

These innovations can be employed rapidly to address the current Ebola response and better prepare for future outbreaks. The award nominees can be classified in several categories: 1) cutting edge tools for advanced patient care; 2) reimagining the health care setting to enhance care, increase access, and improve worker safety; 3) improving the safety of health care workers: suits and protective layers; 4) improving the safety of health care workers: decontaminates; 5) changing behaviour to eliminate Ebola; and 6) information communication technology solutions.  

External view of the redesigned Ebola treatment tent by School of Public Health, CHS and CEDAT that aims to substantially change the working environment for health care workers, February 2015, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

The primary objective is to get improved solutions into the field as quickly as possible.  To ensure that this happens, the Fighting Ebola Grand Challenge Team is working to put in place clear and rigorous pathways to rapidly test and deploy the best ideas.

Frontline healthcare workers involved in management of suspected and confirmed Ebola cases in humid sub-tropical, tropical, and equatorial climates work under very stressful conditions characterized by extreme heat and humidity predisposing them to heat stress and its associated complications. These extreme environmental conditions also affect quality of care for patients. Health care workers cannot spend more than a couple of hours dressed in the full-body Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) because of the extreme heat and discomfort. This lessens patient care contact time yet much of the treatment for Ebola should be supportive. The frequent but short work-rest schedules put them at risk of infection. This is because they are more likely to make procedural errors as they move back and forth into contaminated and non-contaminated zones. Patients too have to endure the same conditions. The extremely hot environment in their isolation wards exacerbates their risk of electrolyte imbalances due to excessive perspiration, yet Ebola patients are already at a higher risk of physiological and bio-chemical imbalances. Countries affected by Ebola are located in sub-Saharan Africa along the Equator, with very hot and humid climates.

Please follow the links below for additional information;
http://www.ebolagrandchallenge.net/reimagined-ebola-treatment-units

http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/feb-11-2015-united-states-announces-additional-results-grand-challenge-fight-ebola

“Solutions through Innovation”

Article by Harriet Adong, ResilientAfrica Network

 

Mark Wamai

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda

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Call For Abstracts: National Symposium on Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda. Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Tufts University, and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), invites researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community actors to submit abstracts for the National Symposium on:

Climate Migration among Youths in Uganda: Local Voices for Policy Impact

Date: Wednesday, 12th August 2026
Venue: Makerere University Main Hall

The symposium will examine the drivers, patterns, and impacts of climate-induced youth migration in Uganda, while advancing evidence-based and community-informed policy responses.

Theme: Climate-Induced Youth Migration and Urban Futures in Uganda: Evidence, Voices, and Pathways for Action

Submission Deadline: 9th June 2026

Submit Abstracts To: citiesofyouth@musph.ac.ug

Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to contribute research findings, case studies, policy analyses, and practice-based experiences. Abstracts will be considered for oral and poster presentations.

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University

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Call for Research Support Applications from Master’s Students who have Completed their First Year of Taught Classes at Makerere University. Photo: Nano Banan 2

Makerere University, in partnership with Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Independent University of Bangladesh, Eduardo Mondlane University, and Pokhara University, with funding from Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED), is implementing a project: ‘Co-creating Knowledge for Local Adaptation to Climate Change in LDCs (COLOCAL).

The expected outputs of the project include strengthened educational and research capacity, improved knowledge on inclusive Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) and Community Based Adaptation (CBA) including delivering skilled knowledge co-creators, and partnerships to support needs-driven, locally-based and contextually sensitive adaptation. The outputs are anticipated to influence policy, planning and practice around LLA and CBA through collaborative learning and knowledge translation.

In line with targets and activities for 2026/2027, COLOCAL project is offering research support for three (3) Master’s students who have completed their first academic year of taught classes at Makerere University and are interested in undertaking research under one of the following thematic areas. The students MUST have undertaken the course offered under the auspices of the project on Disability, Social Justice and Climate Resilient Development.

Requirements:

  • A first degree from a reputable university in a field related to the focus of the project
  • Ugandan citizen below 35 years
  • Good command of English (spoken and written)
  • Demonstrated interest in inclusive and climate resilient development
  • Evidence of practical experience in conducting relevant research during and after undergraduate level
  • Evidence of full payment of all university fees for the first academic year
  • The Masters programme being undertaken MUST have explicit content on climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Special consideration will be given to students with disabilities, financial challenges, students from ethnic minority groups, internally displaced students, among others

Scholarship and study/research conditions

Availability to complete all research activities in a maximum of 10 months.

Scope of the scholarship

The project will specifically cover stipends and support for field activities only. Support with tuition fees, for the research year, will be provided for students who will complete and submit the research thesis for examination within 10 months from the date of receiving the scholarship offer letter.

How to apply

Interested and eligible candidates should submit the following documents: Application letter, research concept note of not more than 2 pages, academic transcripts/certificates, an updated CV (including contacts of at least two referees) and two recommendation letters.

Send applications via email to: colocal.caes@mak.ac.ug, not later than 20th May, 2026. This contact can as well be used for inquiries, where necessary.

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Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert

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Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Request For Consultancy Services: Training & Digital Solutions Expert. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa

The Makerere University Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Limited implemented a Gates Foundation training program dubbed “Principle of Management Excellence for Research training” PRIMER in francophone countries, namely, Mali, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This training was delivered by content experts and experienced practitioners, not professionally trained experts. As such, limiting the quality of slide decks, which were largely fragmented with text rather than graphical and infographic elements that suit a mature audience. To effectively deliver a research training program, advanced, engaging, and efficient tools are critical for fostering audience engagement and participation, and for learning and assessment in research management excellence. To achieve this, IDI seeks to hire an expert to:

  1. design and deliver a set of integrated advanced slide decks combining text, visual learning materials (graphical and infographics) and case scenarios
  2. develop a virtual bilingual community learning platform (VBCLP), i.e. with in-built French and English to engage alumni,
  3. develop and automate a pre-course assessment system that potential trainees fill out, and it automates results that are presented in statistical form for easy interpretation and decision making.

Details: https://shorturl.at/Rzn8d

Apply to: EAkankwasa@idi.co.ug

Deadline: 5 June 2026, 5 PM EAT

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