General

OHCEA Frontrunners: Recounting 2017 Disease Outbreak Responses and Public Health Interventions

Published

6 years ago

May 18, 2018

Mark Wamai

Student Responders on a boat off Lutembe Beach wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) go out on the lake to collect a dead bird during the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak in February 2017 Image:OHCEA

One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA) initiated in 2010, is an international network in eight countries in Eastern, Central and Western Africa, rooted in 24 Institutions in 16 Universities including Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) in the College of Health Sciences (CHS) and College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB). In 2017 a third Institution, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) joined the Network. The overall goal of OHCEA in Uganda is to develop a One Health higher education system that will produce a One Health graduate with transformative knowledge and ability to prevent and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks.

One Health is a multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaborative undertaking to attain optimal health for our people, our animals (domestic and wild) and our environment. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats phase-two (EPT-2) program, through the One Health Workforce (OHW) project has supported OHCEA to implement activities that promote the One Health education approach in Makerere University. Partners at the University of Minnesota (Project Lead) and Tufts University regularly provide support to OHCEA.

Over the course of 2017, OHCEA undertook a series of multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary activities implemented by faculty, undergraduate and graduate students in partnership with government ministries and universities in the US. These included; the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Industry (MAAIF), Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the National One Health Platform, the EPT-2 partners with Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) projects funded by USAID: PREDICT-2, FAO-ECTAD, Preparedness and Response and the USAID Mission, Uganda.

Some of the activities undertaken included creating a new curricu¬lum for the Executive MPH-MBA (Masters Public Health-Masters Business Administration) programme in partnership with the University of Minnesota and teaching principals of One Health to undergraduate and graduate students from CHS, CoVAB, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) and the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).

Other activities included One Health field attachment to the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha and Kasese-Hima communities in Western Uganda where teams sensitized the population on; practices of preventing bilharzia, proper hand washing techniques and Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). Teams also participated in the redesign of the community slaughter slab in Hima to segregate solid and liquid waste as well as taught communities to recycle charcoal dust by making briquettes. HPV and Hepatitis B immunization campaigns were also carried out among select communities.

OHCEA further supported the placement of 10 Graduate students at institutions such as; FAO-ECTAD-2 project, Amref Health Africa, Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), AFRISA, ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) and the Uganda National Health Laboratory Systems.

Students also participated in disease outbreak response and public health interventions in partnership with and under the mentorship of the sector Ministry or National and District Task Force which foster One Health approach. Interventions included epidemiology studies on the: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak in February 2017; Anthrax High Alert in Arua, July 2017; Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in Nakaseke and Kiboga Districts , September 2017 and Marburg Haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Kween and Kapchorwa Districts, November 2017.

OHCEA also seeks to build skills in risk communication and public health interventions through experiential learning and community engagements. In this regard, students solely initiated and undertook a Rabies Vaccination and Awareness Outreach project in the communities of Kanyanya, Kabowa and Kawaala using a One Health Approach in commemoration of World Rabies Day.

Please see Downloads for the full newsletter.

Summary by Public Relations Office

General

Call for Applications: Third U.S.-Africa Frontiers Symposium

Published

5 days ago

June 28, 2024

Mak Editor

Call for Applications: Third U.S.-Africa Frontiers Symposium Kigali, Rwanda, February 18-20, 2025. Photo: Courtesy.

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is pleased to announce the 3^rdU.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Symposium in partnership with and hosted by the Republic of Rwanda. The upcoming meeting will be held on February 18-20, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. The application is now open for scientists, engineers, and medical professionals from the United States and African Union member countries to submit their application online before the deadline of July 7, 2024, 11:59 PM ET (Washington D.C. time).

This program brings together outstanding early/mid-career scientists, engineers, and medical professionals (within 15 years of most recent degree), from the United States and the member countries of the African Union for a series of symposia to discuss exciting advances and opportunities in their fields. The goal of these meetings is to enhance scientific exchange and dialogue among early-to-middle career researchers in African countries and the United States, including the African science diaspora, and through this interaction facilitate research collaboration within and beyond the region. Another unique aspect of the Frontiers events is the pluri-disciplinarity of the participants’ backgrounds and research interests.

One of the main objectives of this Frontiers symposium is to advance our understanding of cutting-edge S&T trends in the U.S. and Africa and to foster dialogue and collaborations across disciplines. The upcoming symposium will address the following topics:

Session I: New Solutions for Decarbonization
Session II: Biotechnology
Session III: Precision Agriculture
Session IV: Advances in Space Research
Session V: Smart and Connected Cities

We encourage early-career scientists, engineers and medical professionals working on related research to apply to this multidisciplinary meeting, as long as they fulfill the eligibility criteria. Each general participant will also have the opportunity to present their research during poster sessions. Travel of selected participants will be covered. More details on the symposium, organization, and program can be found on the symposium webpage.

Please submit your application online by 11:59 PM ET on July 7, 2024. For more information on the U.S.-Africa Frontiers Program, please visit our program website. Please email USAfricaSTEM@nas.edu with any questions.

APPLY BY JULY 7

General

Call for scholarship applications for PhDs and MSc positions in the framework of the Intra Africa Homegrown Clean Energy Project

Published

6 days ago

June 27, 2024

Mak Editor

Some of the CAES PhD graduates with the Chair of the University Ceremonies Committee, also member of staff at the College, Prof. Jackie Bonabana (Right). 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 2, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), 30th January 2024, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Homegrown Clean Energy Project:

Mobility for Clean Energy Solutions to promote energy independence and environmental well-being through collaboration and innovation, addressing climate challenges across Africa.

Background:

Africa, a continent brimming with potential, faces a critical challenge: ensuring energy access and tackling climate change. Over 50% of its population lacks electricity, and relying on unsustainable practices threatens their health and the environment. Yet, Africa possesses a wealth of untapped renewable resources – a golden key to unlocking a brighter future.
The Homegrown Clean Energy (HCE) Solutions Project steps in to address these challenges with a vision driven by African ingenuity. We are empowering universities, the private sector, and local communities to develop clean energy solutions tailored to their specific needs.

The objectives of Homegrown Clean Energy:

Promote the development of Homegrown Clean Energy (HCE) solutions for underrepresented communities.
Facilitate knowledge sharing and technology transfer among participating institutions.
Enhance entrepreneurship skills in clean energy solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation in Africa.
Promote gender equality and social inclusion in clean energy solutions.

Participating Institutions:

Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMIN), Nigeria
Makerere University, Uganda
University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin
Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), Uganda
University of Nigeria (UNN), Nigeria
University of Zimbabwe (UoZ)

Application Documents:

Filled Application Form
CV
A three-page proposal document

See Downloads for detailed application.

How to Apply for the Scholarship:

To apply: click here to apply: Masters https://bit.ly/HCE_MScApply
To apply: click here to apply: PhD https://bit.ly/HCE_PhDApply

Application Deadline

The deadline for the application is 27^th July 2024 by Midnight GMT +1. Results will be announced on September 3, 2024

Contact Details

For further enquiries or guidance required kindly contact the following.

FUT Minna – Caroline Alenoghena; carol@futminna.edu.ng +234 8035015984
UNN- Cynthia Nwobodo; cynthia.nwobodo@unn.edu.ng +234 803 946 2574
MAK– Grace Nakabonge; grace.nakabonge@mak.ac.ug +256 782356607
UMU- Dr Robinah S. Nakabo; rnakabo@umu.ac.ug +256 776 802981
UAC- Michel Dossou; michel.dossou@uac.bj +229 97 54 27 44
UoZ- Dr Blessing Magonziwa; blessing.magonziwa21@alumni.colostate.edu. +263 775990146

HCE-Call-for-scholarship-applications-for-PhDs-and-MSc-positions Download

General

Job Opportunity at MakSBSREC: Assistant Administrative Officer

Published

1 week ago

June 24, 2024

Mak Editor

The Davies Lecture Theatre (Right), School of Biomedical Sciences (Blue) and other buildings at the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Mulago Campus, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University is pleased to announce a vacancy for the position of Assistant Administrative Officer (REC Administrator) within the School of Biomedical Sciences Research Ethics Committee (MakSBSREC). This is an excellent opportunity for qualified individuals to contribute to the ethical oversight of research involving human participants.

Position Details:

Job Title: Assistant Administrative Officer (REC Administrator) – MakSBSREC
Reports to: Chairperson MakSBSREC
Engagement: Full-time
Duration: 1 Year, renewable upon satisfactory performance
Duty Station: Kampala

Qualifications, Desired Skills, and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and Humanities, Medicine and Surgery, Ethics and Human Rights, or any related field.
Master’s degree in Bioethics (an added advantage).
Up-to-date training in Human Subject Protection or Good Clinical Practice.
Proficiency in English (both spoken and written).
Prior experience in regulatory work in research studies or projects.
Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and meet deadlines.

How to Apply:

Qualified and interested candidates are invited to submit a soft copy of their application documents and a motivation letter to deansbs.chs@mak.ac.ug with the subject line “Application for the position of Assistant Administrative Officer (REC Administrator)”. Address your application to the Dean, School of Biomedical Sciences.

Deadline for submission: July 2, 2024, by 5:00 pm Ugandan time.

Please provide a reliable 24-hour phone contact. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

View on CHS

Makerere-CHS-SBS-Research-Ethics-Committee-Assistant-Administrative-Officer-Job Download