General
Over UGX150 million raised for International Symposium on Non-Communicable Diseases
On 12th December 2017, over UGX150 million was raised during the Mak Fundraising dinner organised by Makerere University College of Health Sciences together with St. Augustine International University to mobilise resources for the upcoming 1st International Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Symposium scheduled to take place from 12th to 15th February 2018 at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The Minister of State for International Affairs, Hon. Oryem Henry Okello officiated at the fundraising drive that engaged corporate and development partners from both public and private sector as well as partners from the business world.
The Minister acknowledged the tremendous support from development partners towards fighting against NCDs in Uganda and encouraged them to continue soliciting funds to boost the health sector of the country. He pledged to mobilise more partners, fellow ministers and friends to work with the committee and also contribute towards the noble cause.
Hon. Oryem applauded the brains behind the 1st International Non Communicable Diseases Symposium saying that, Uganda has yarned for an awareness campaign on Non Communicable Diseases. “We live in a terrible situation without knowledge on NCDs. The percentage of victims of NCDs in Uganda is very high, including myself. This drive is a formidable one and I believe we are going to achieve the intended goals,” he said.
He encouraged Ugandans to go for screening so that they can understand their status earlier and adopt the preventive measures or start the medication. He pledged to extend the campaign to fellow ministers so that they can also carry out the test “talk to your friends and family about this and encourage them to go for tests and screening. I pledge to reach out to the cabinet ministers so that they can also be tested and screened during this drive. We need to fight this killer disease before it fights our population,” the Minister remarked.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Prof. William Bazeyo called for a collective measure to create awareness among Ugandans on the Non Communicable Diseases. He also urged Ugandans to embrace the development of a research fund geared towards collecting data aimed at finding lasting solutions on Non Communicable Diseases.
“We discovered that little research has been done on NCDs. Africans we are depending on research done by the western world. We need to support our own research. Makerere University might not be endowed with funds but it is endowed with human capacity to do research. Therefore if we raise funds, I am sure the University together with other partners can carry out research on the NCDs,” said Prof. Bazeyo.
He thanked all the developmental partners that have immensely contributed towards the symposium as well as the Research fund. Prof. Bazeyo recognised the efforts of H.E King Caesar Augustus Mulenga to mobilise funds for the symposium and the research fund. He thanked the Principal of College of Health Sciences Prof. Charles Ibingira for commitment to hosting a successful symposium.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor informed the audience that Makerere University Council chaired by Eng. Charles Wana-Etyem would contribute UGX50million. Prof. Bazeyo also pledged to contribute UGX5million towards the Symposium on Non-Communicable Diseases.
Appreciating the drive to fight against NCDs in Uganda, the Chairman of St Augustine International University H.E King Caesar Augustus Mulenga, pledged to contribute UGX100milliom towards the Symposium and also pledged on behalf of St Augustine International University to raise UGX50 million annually for a period of 7 years towards development the research fund.
H.E King Caesar Augustus Mulenga emphasized the need to create awareness on NCDs when he said, “there is a need to make Ugandans know that Non Communicable Diseases are here and here to kill. We therefore need to provide this information. We must teach them about the prevention of NCDs.”
“Ugandans should develop a culture of early screening to detect and treat the diseases in infancy stages. We need to make it a rule or a policy that there must be early screening in schools, organisations, institutions and also screening among family members,” he added.
The 1st International Non Communicable Diseases Symposium will take place from 12th -15th February 2018 at Speke Resort Munyonyo. Organised by Makerere University College of Health Sciences and St Augustine International University under a theme: “Building momentum to address the epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases in Africa,” the symposium focuses on creating attention to the NCDs epidemic in Uganda and the region among general public, business community, researchers, clinicians, funders, and policy makers that will result into a formidable multi-disciplinary response to stop the epidemic. It also aims at creating networks and consortium that will generate data and design interventions for prevention, early detection and treatment of NCDs as well as creating national policies, frameworks and multi-disciplinary health systems to curb the ill health and early deaths from the Diseases.
According to the Chairperson of the National Organising Committee, Prof. Fred Wabwire, the symposium will inform research focused on finding innovative solutions to epidemic and endemic diseases.
In a presentation, the Principal of College of Health Sciences, Prof. Charles Ibingira said that the minimal response to the NCDs by Ugandans has been due to low public awareness, and weak health systems that are aligned to only communicable diseases and limited data to support the design of presentation and intervention.
“Many Ugandans have died due to lack of knowledge about the diseases. So many of them have gone to hospitals only to be diagnosed of cancer in its advanced stages. Another issues is that we have weak and poorly facilitated health centres with no screening equipment,” he said.
He encouraged the public to support the awareness drive that the College of Health Sciences together with St Augustine International University is organising to enable the society understand the preventative measures for Non-Communicable Diseases. Prof. Ibingira urged Government to support health centres with equipment and necessary facilitation in line with Non Communicable Disease prevention and awareness.
The Makerere University Fundraising Dinner was graced by the Managing Director of Bank of Baroda Mr. Ashwini Kumar, Chairman Crown Beverages Ltd (Franchise holder for Pepsi in Uganda) Mr Amos Nzeyi, the Director, Directorate of Socio-Economic Monitoring and Research (DSEMR) in the Office of the President Hon. Vincent Tumusiime, representatives from DFCU Bank, Stanbic Bank, Victoria Motors, Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG), Aga Khan Hospital among others.
Article by: MAK Public Relations Office
General
Prof. Nawangwe urges Makerere University community to support the Mastercard Foundation E-learning Initiative
By Bernard Buteera
Makerere University has launched a two million dollar E-learning Project, dubbed The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program E-learning initiative.
The launch was held on Tuesday 20th September 2022 at Makerere University, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium. It attracted over 200 participants, who included members of University Management, College Principals, School Deans, Academic and Administrative staff, students and the general university community.
While addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Prof. Mary Okwakol, the Executive Director of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), congratulated Makerere University for winning such a huge grant, which will go a long way in transforming the eLearning infrastructure at Makerere University.
“I am happy to be joining you in launching a project that is at the heart of National Council for Higher Education. Online learning is at the heart of the Council, not only because of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, but also the world is now a digital world.” Prof. Okwakol remarked.
Prof. Okwakol thanked Mastercard Foundation and other development partners who have continued to support initiatives that help transform higher institutions of learning in Uganda.
“I sincerely thank the Mastercard Foundation and other partners who have continued to support higher education in Uganda, especially in the area of research and online learning. Globally, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, greatly disrupted education systems forcing learners and some schools to shift to virtual learning to curb the spread of the pandemic.” Prof. Okwakol pointed out.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe urged the university community, especially the academic staff to take advantage of the Mastercard Foundation E-learning initiative to develop e-content across all Colleges of the University, to enhance capacity for eLearning at Makerere University.
”I appeal to the Colleges to embrace this project and have as many courses adopt this pedagogy development system, even though students will continue with face-to face and phyisical learning, they should be allowed the option of online learning. The platforms that are going to be built, will give our students an opportunity to interact with international students, scholars, teachers and with each other.” Prof. Nawangwe applealed.
The Vice Chancellor, further called upon all other development partners to emulate Mastercard Foundation in supporting Makerere University and other universities on the entire African continent in strengthening digital literacy, so that Africa is not left behind.
”In 2018 I attended a conference on E-learning in Beijing China, where a critical question was asked; Will Africa be left behind again? This was in reference to many advancements that were taking place in the western world, in which Africa had been left behind.” The Vice Chancellor reminded the audience.
Prof. Nawangwe further emphaised the importance of e-learning as one of the critical modes of teaching and learning in the 21st first century.
”Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot over emphasise the importance we attach to e-learning the 21st Century, that is why we took a decision to elevate the Department of Open and Distance Learning into an Institute of Open and Distance E-learning with an intention of having e-learning extended to other Colleges of the university.” Prof. Nawangwe pointed out.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, and Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the E-learning Initiative, Prof. Umar Kakumba, rallied the University community to support the implementation of the project in the University.
“The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program E-learning initiative could not have come in at a better time than post COVID19 era. A pandemic, which exposed our systems and methods of teaching and learning. You all recall, when were hit by the pandemic, with lockdowns and closures of institutions of learning, we all went into a panicky mode on how were going to cope with online learning. I therefore call upon every member of the university to give this project the support it deserves.
Prof. Kakumba reminded the audience the importance and relevancy of online learning at Makerere University and other universities in Uganda.
“The online method of learning is best suited for everyone. This digital revolution has led to remarkable changes in how the content is accessed, consumed, discussed, and shared. Office goers and stay home mothers can take up online educational courses too, at the time that suits them. Depending on their availability and comfort, many people choose to learn at weekends or evenings.” Prof. Kakumba remarked.
Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda, the Coordinator of the Mastercard Foundation E-learning Initiative, informed the audience the importance of the project and the expected outcomes for the University.
“The Mastercard Foundation e- Learning Initiative is a Project funded by Mastercard Foundation aimed at addressing the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic that constrained access and continuity of teaching, learning, research and community engagement activities at Makerere University” Prof. Muyinda pointed out.
Prof. Muyinda further thanked the team that he worked with in putting up the proposal in a very short time that yielded such an important grant for the University.
“I thank the team that spent sleepless nights putting together the proposal that resulted into this project. I must report that Makerere University is privileged to be having the most highly qualified persons in online instruction design and online pedagogy at the IODeL and beyond. It is now up to Makerere University in particular and the Country in general to make use of these persons to transform the terrain of online, blended distance and e-learning education.” Prof. Muyinda remarked.
Prof. Justine Namaalwa, the Program Coordinator for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, informed the audience, that the E-learning initiative was one of the many partnerships between Mastercard Foundation and Makerere University geared at supporting the young people to succeed on the African continent.
“The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program continues to recognize that in order to enable young people across Africa to succeed, there is need to; Address systemic barriers in Higher education, Strengthen the capacity of Institutions that serve the Young People, and Support innovative solutions across critical sectors.” Prof. Namaalwa remarked.
The colourful launch ended with a panel discussion in which panelists digested the importance and opportunities for open distance and eLearning in higher institutions of learning.
Bernard Buteera is the Communications Officer of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
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