General
Mak hosts 3rd IFEH and 16th MUEHSA Conference
The 3rd International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) and 16th Makerere University Environmental Health Students' Association (MUEHSA) Conference kicked off on 9th April 2019 at Hotel Africana. Officially opened by the Prime Minister of Uganda Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, represented by the State Minister for Health-Primary Health Care, Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the three days’ conference is running from 9th-11th April 2019 under the theme: Environmental Health: A Cornerstone to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The 3rd International Federation of Environmental Health and 16th Makerere University Environmental Health Students' Association (MUEHSA) Conference brings together experts in environmental sciences and health, around the world to stimulate multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration in environmental health; central to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); particularly SDG 3 and SDG 6.
The Conference builds on the environmental health actions that seek to capture and spread the good practices as well as providing potential approaches to be adopted by environmental health Practitioners during their community activities.
According to the Dean, School of Public Health, Makerere University Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze, the Conference is the first to be hosted in Africa and has come at a time when environmental health continues to play a pivotal role in existing global health concerns.
“Currently the world is facing challenges such as food safety, pollution, water, sanitation, improper housing, hygiene, antimicrobial resistance, climate change as well as one health especially in our developing countries. -This requires the active engagement and participation of environmental health practitioners to come up with solutions and innovations to address the challenges,” she said.
In a speech read by the State Minister for Health-Primary Health Care, Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the Prime Minister applauded the organizers of the conference for developing a platform for practitioners, academicians, researchers, policy makers, implementers, funders, legislators and students to discuss and find solutions on improving Environmental Health Practices.
According to Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Uganda through the Ministry of Health has focused on preventative than curative measures while handling environmental health matters. The Ministry appointed Environmental Health Officers who have made a significant role towards controlling major health epidemics such as plaque, cholera, and Ebola.
“Over the years, the profession has continued to evolve and Environmental Health Officers have played a key role in disease surveillance and carrying out research on epidemic outbreak. The tremendous work that Health Inspectors have played to ensure that households are habitable is undeniable. We have made great contribution to improve access to water and ensure proper sanitation and hygiene,” he remarked.
He emphasized the importance of investing in Environmental Health when he said, “environmental health is a critical field that needs proper attention. It is the backbone of Public health. The environment we live in determines our health status. The Government of Uganda is currently spending UGX260 billion, annually on treatment of preventable diseases and we shall spend less if we put a lot of effort in preventive measures,” said the Prime Minister.
Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda cited the need for continued capacity building and research support in the field of environmental health. He applauded the government of Uganda for committing UGX30 billionto support research in Universities.
The President of the International Federation of Environmental Health-Dr. Selva Mudaly appealed to politicians and other leaders of the world to support activities geared towards environmental conservation. “Climate change is a reality. Don’t look away. The recent widespread flooding in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi is a caution of what is happening in Africa. Don’t wait for the wake up, break up and then start looking for environmental scientists,” said Dr. Selva Mudaly.
He called upon responsible officers to prioritise and fund disaster and risk management trainings. He also encouraged researchers to take research to communities.
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University represented by Prof. William Bazeyo-the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, noted that Environmental Health is the beginning of Public Health. He informed participants that environmental health links the nation to its community. He applauded the School of Public Health for being the flagship of Makerere University in research, publications, human resource development and quality production.
According to Prof. Bazeyo, the world is facing a big problem of one health; non communicable and communicable diseases. He therefore urged scientists to take the topics seriously and find solutions.
During the opening ceremony, the President of the International Federation of Environmental Health Dr. Selva Mudaly handed over the Roy Emerson Award to the 2019 winner, Mr. George William Ssendagala; a student of Food Science and technology at Makerere University.
The Roy Emerson Award is an essay competition for Environmental Health undergraduate students from IFEH Member Countries or IFEH Academic Association members. Organized by the International Federation of Environmental Health, the 2019 competitions called upon students to discuss and critically appraise the aims to support the provision of safe food, to make use of precious water & nutrient resources, and for communities to increasingly value sustainable food production on the topic; “Global Food Safety and Sustainability.”
George William Ssendagala’s area of focus was on Developments in the Obushera in Uganda- a traditional fermented drink in Africa.
“I looked at fermented foods in Africa, America, Europe and Asia to get a big picture and then narrowed down to Obushera in Uganda. My aim was to understand the safety issues that are negatively affecting the industry of Obushera production and the waste management process since the drink is packaged mostly in plastic materials picked from garbage,” he said.
The 3rd International Federation of Environmental Health and 16th Makerere University Environmental Health Students' Association (MUEHSA) Conference will end on 11th April 2019. During the three days, participants will go through an exciting programme consisting of keynote addresses, oral and poster presentations, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, mentorship, career guidance session, student’s debates and meetings.
The Chairperson of the Conference Organizing Committee, Makerere University School Public Health Dr. David Musoke, encouraged participants to explore opportunities that the conference is offering especially potential collaboration in teaching, research and practice.
“I wish to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of this conference. My humble appreciation goes to IFEH, Ministry of Health, Makerere University, Environmental Health Workers Association of Uganda, Nottingham Trent University, UK and all sponsors and partners who have played a vital role in making this conference a success,” said Mr. George Oryongatum, the Conference Co-Chairperson and MUEHSA President.
Article by Mak Public Relations Office
The Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD), Makerere University on 14th September 2021 presented findings from phase one of the study on Enhancing Women’s Participation and Visibility in Leadership and Decision-Making Organs of Public Universities in Uganda through Action Research. The study team led by the Director GMD and Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine also consists of Assoc. Prof. Consolata Kabonesa, Dr. Anna Ninsiima, Ms. Frances Nyachwo, Ms. Susan Mbabazi and Mr. Eric Tumwesigye.
The team is also made of coordinators from participating Universities such as Busitema University-Ms. Elizabeth Birabwa, Kabale University-Sr. Dr. Eva Tumusiime, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)-Dr. Specioza Twinamasiko, Muni University-Ms. Amandru Stella Wawa, and Gulu Univeristy-Sr. Rosalba Aciro.
Funded by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF), the study was inspired by the fact that women are persistently few in numbers as staff, more so in leadership and decision-making organs of Ugandan Public Universities. “This is despite all the various efforts at national and international levels; the numbers are not growing as fast as needed to meet development goals of the country” explained Dr. Euzobia.
Based on this background, the study team therefore sought to conduct a situational analysis of the gender terrain of the six public universities to obtain baseline information encompassing the composition of governance and leadership organs and senior staff by sex, as well as a needs assessment and profiles of potential mentors and mentees.
Furthermore, the team sought to explore the capacity to conduct gender-responsive research as well as the role of male staff engagement in gender equity interventions within the universities as the drivers of development.
Dr. Mugisha-Baine shared that results of the baseline would then be used to design participatory training manuals or guides on gender and leadership. The manuals would cover; Institutionalized mentorship, How to conduct gender-responsive research, gender and equity budgeting, among others.
“Within these manuals, we shall have a male staff engagement strategy in gender equity interventions in universities” she explained.
The development of the aforementioned materials would then be followed by their adoption and use to build capacity for women not only in leadership of participating and other public university but also beyond. “We shall periodically evaluate whether the capacity we have built has influenced women’s participation in leadership and decision-making organs of the university” supplemented the PI.
The capacity building trainings for women, it is envisaged, will lay the foundation for the formation of a functional Uganda University Women’s Think Tank, starting with the six participating universities. Dr. Mugisha Baine added that through this Think Tank, a monitoring and tracking system for gender representation in recruitment, promotion, retention/turnover and leadership of public universities shall be established and maintained.
At the conclusion of phase one, the study team had drafted participatory training manuals in gender and leadership with content on; gender specific critical analysis of the leadership spectrum of public universities, positioning of individual women within the institutional framework and strategies for their advancement, gender equity advocacy in the university setting, institutional mentorship, building capacity in conducting gender-responsive research, among others.
“This content will be validated by the participating universities before the actual research training is conducted” added the PI.
On behalf of the research team, Dr. Mugisha Baine thanked the Government of Uganda for providing the resources that facilitated phase one of the study and prayed that the Mak-RIF Grants Management Committee (GMC) would support the next phase of capacity building.
Speaking on behalf of the Mak-RIF GMC Chairperson, Prof. William Bazeyo, Dr. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala thanked and congratulated the team led by the Director GMD upon the milestones registered in the critical research.
“We are very proud of that work that is being done by all researchers in Mak-RIF and we would like to most sincerely thank Management for all the support throughout this process” she remarked.
Dr. Nkabala encouraged the research team to continue disseminating and using the findings for the furtherance of gender mainstreaming, particularly through the aspect of male staff engagement in gender equity interventions.
Prior to delivering the keynote address of the day, the Executive Director National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) Prof. Mary Okwakol thanked the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe for inviting her to the important forum, noting that women’s participation in decision making and governance is a priority area of the Uganda Gender Policy 2007.
She commended Makerere University for being at the forefront of gender mainstreaming in Uganda, noting that this prominence was one of the reasons why the Gender in Education Policy 2007 provides for replicating the institution’s strategy in all other Higher Education Institutions.
Prof. Okwakol whose keynote address was punctuated incisive personal examples reaffirmed the statistics that women are generally not visible in leadership of Universities. That notwithstanding, in instances where they rise to leadership and decision-making positions, they are regularly subject to roles traditionally deemed as women’s inconsiderate of their managerial seniority and experience.
She nevertheless rallied the women to play their respective roles in enhancing participation and visibility at a personal level. The following were some of the strategies she proposed; work hard to acquire academic credentials so as to compete favourably with men, acquire necessary administrative training and experience, network among women, join professional networks as well as do research and publish.
On joining professional networks, she shared her personal experience as a young zoologist who joined UNESCO’s Tropical Biology and Fertility Programme. “Within a short time I was appointed Coordinator for Africa and after two years, I was elected as a Member of the International Board of Management. After serving for two years, I became Vice Chairperson of that Board and finally I became Chairperson of that International Board.”
At the institutional level, Prof. Okwakol appealed to the Chairperson Council and Vice Chancellor to proactively recruit women who meet the requirements for leadership positions even if it means actively seeking out the reluctant ones. In this regard, she shared that it would be useful for the university to develop a database of women and their qualifications to ease this process.
She shared that NCHE has in recognition of female underrepresentation at every level in Higher Education approved the establishment of a Gender and Equity Unit with the aim of promoting inclusive gender participation in the sub-sector.
“This unit has been placed under the Directorate of Quality Assurance and Accreditation which implies that as we look out for and regulate quality, gender will be a very important aspect of that regulation” she reassured.
Prof. Okwakol concluded by urging participants to read the; Third National Development Plan (NDPIII), Uganda Vision 2040, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) noting that there is no way all three can be achieved while women are left behind because they each make a case for inclusion of the female gender.
“What we are addressing here are historical injustices” said Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe as he commenced his remarks, “And in the case of Makerere University, it is well known that the institution started as a male-only institution and we all know the original motto was ‘Let us be men’” he added.
Citing examples from history such as; Marie Curie – one of the smartest physicists, Hatshepsut, Nefertiti and Cleopatra – prominent Pharaohs of Egypt, George Eliot, Rosa Luxemburg and Hypatia – all great philosophers as well as Chancellor Angela Merkel – first female Chancellor of Germany, the Vice Chancellor said there is no plausible argument that there are things women cannot do as well as their male counterparts.
He said it was against this knowledge and in a bid to correct historical injustices that Makerere University pioneered initiatives such as putting in place affirmative action for girls, establishing a Gender Mainstreaming Directorate as well as a School of Women and Gender Studies. The Vice Chancellor nevertheless stressed the need to go beyond pioneering to protecting these gains through legislation. “Historically we have seen that discrimination can only be addressed by laws and policies.”
Prof. Nawangwe thanked the Government for providing funds to support Mak-RIF as well as the Funds GMC and Secretariat for ensuring that these funds are put to good use. He equally thanked the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara for her not only her support but also sparing time to attend a good number of the research dissemination events.
Delivering the concluding remarks, Mrs. Magara acknowledged that the study was timely and relevant the contemporary University, as one of the critical drivers of the national and international development agenda. She therefore reechoed the Vice Chancellor’s thanks to the Government of Uganda for generously supporting the University’s research through Mak-RIF.
Turning to the keynote speaker she said, “I thank Prof. Okwakol for ardently discussing the critical issues affecting the female gender, the strategies to overcome the challenges, including sharing her inspiring personal experiences.”
Mrs. Magara equally thanked Prof. Okwakol for her very instructional analysis, providing mentorship guidance with the resultant impact of enhancing the female gender in decision-making positions. In the same breath she congratulated the PI and her team upon successfully concluding phase one of the project.
“Phase one has generated insights in understanding the status of women in leadership in public universities, the legal and policy framework and its implications on women’s visibility, the institutional mentoring systems and the gaps therein” she observed.
The Chairperson of Council acknowledged that the challenge of underrepresentation of women in leadership roles cannot be resolved at an individual level. She therefore advocated for broad based strategies that can address deep-seated structural and cultural biases facing women. “These include developing mentorship networks, enacting laws and policies that address the imbalances and providing training programmes to address the leadership gaps.”
She therefore pledged the University Council’s unwavering support to the Gender Mainstreaming Programme by ensuring an enabling policy environment that facilitates gender-responsive teaching, learning, research innovation and community service.
The research dissemination was moderated by the Principal Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ms. Ritah Namisango and the Director Communications, Learning and Knowledge Management, ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) and PRO Mak-RIF, Ms. Harriet Adong.
