Health

Personal/Community Care after the Loss Due to Fire

Published

6 years ago

September 24, 2020

Mark Wamai

The JICA Roundabout as approached from University Road, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

Friends, everyone of us was thrown into shock, disbelief, pain, sadness and other feelings. Whereas we were all affected in some way the top university administrators and occupants of the offices on the Main Building lost more than the rest of us. They lost valuables, information, space to work from and any other losses that may not be remembered now but will be recalled when needed in future.

Amidst all this we thank God that no one was physically harmed. However, this doesn’t mean people may not be affected emotionally/psychologically. I wish to share a few tips that we can use as first aid to ensure psychological health.

Use appropriate physical exercises alternated with relaxation. These will alleviate some of the physical reactions.
Structure your time – keep busy.
You’re normal and having normal reactions – don’t label yourself crazy.
Talk to people – talk is the most healing medicine.
Be aware of numbing the pain with overuse of drugs or alcohol. You don’t need to complicate this with a substance abuse problem.
Reach out – people do care.
Maintain as normal a schedule as possible.
Spend time with others and talk about what happened to you.
Help others who were affected as much as possible by sharing feelings and checking on how they are doing.
Give yourself permission to feel bad and share your feelings with others.
Keep a journal. Write down your thoughts and feelings about the incident. Research has shown that this is very effective for symptom reduction and resolution of the trauma.
Do things that feel good to you.
Realise those around you are under stress.
Don’t make any big life changes.
Do make as many daily decisions as possible which will give you a feeling of control over your life, i.e., if someone asks you what you want to eat, answer them even if you’re not sure.
Get plenty of rest.
Reoccurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks are normal – don’t try to fight them – they’ll decrease over time and become less painful.
Eat well-balanced and regular meals (even if you don’t feel like it).

Some of us have family and friends who are more affected. What will be your role?

For Family and Friends

Listen carefully
Spend time with the traumatised person
Offer your assistance and a listening ear if they have not asked for help
Reassure them that they are safe
Help them with everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, caring for the family, minding children.
Give them some private time.
Don’t take their anger or other feelings personally.
Don’t tell them that they are “lucky it wasn’t worse” – traumatized people are not consoled by those statements. Instead, tell them that you are sorry such an event has occurred and you want to understand and assist them.

NOTE: Feel free to seek psychosocial support services from the university Counselling and Guidance Centre by walking in, calling to schedule an appointment or using virtual means. We are glad to announce that our professional colleagues from University of California Berkeley have offered to provide staff with free psychosocial support services using virtual means like zoom, skype and so on.

Henry Nsubuga
Manager, Counselling and Guidance Centre,
Plot 106, Mary Stuart Road (Opposite Mary Stuart Hall),
Makerere University
Email: hnsubuga[at]cgc.mak.ac.ug
Tel: +256-772-558022

Click here for more information about the Counselling and Guidance Centre

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Related Topics:counselling Fire health Makerere

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Health

Announcement: 2026 Intake – Certificate in Applied Health Systems Research

Published

7 days ago

May 6, 2026

Mak Editor

Announcement: 2026 Intake – Certificate in Applied Health Systems Research. Photo: Nano Banana 2

Makerere University School of Public Health invites applications for the 2026 intake of the Certificate in Applied Health Systems Research, a short, intensive virtual programme designed for professionals working at the intersection of research, policy, and health system practice.

Why this course matters

Health system challenges are rarely linear. They are shaped by institutional complexity, political realities, and competing stakeholder interests. In many cases, the issue is not the absence of evidence, but the difficulty of producing research that is relevant, timely, and usable within real decision-making environments. This course is designed to address that gap, equipping participants to generate and apply evidence that responds to actual system constraints.

Apply via: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SjPWK37nZGuLb25S2X6d9NPtME2AKlEW_kJjCimivhY/viewform?ts=6821a62d&edit_requested=true

What you will gain

Participants will develop the ability to:

frame research problems grounded in real system conditions
analyse complex interactions within health systems
design policy-relevant and methodologically sound studies
translate findings into actionable insights for decision-making

Course format and key details

The programme runs virtually from 6^th to 17^th July 2026 (2:00–5:45 PM EAT) and combines interactive sessions, applied learning, and expert-led discussions across:

systems thinking and problem framing
research design and mixed methods
evidence use in policy and practice

For full course details:https://sph.mak.ac.ug/program-post/certificate-in-health-systems-research/

Who should apply

This course is suited for:

Researchers and graduate students
Policy analysts and programme managers
Health practitioners involved in planning, implementation, or evaluation

Fees

Ugandan participants: UGX 740,000
International participants: USD 250

Application Deadline: 14 June 2026

Please find the course details below:

2026-Intake-–-Certificate-in-Applied-Health-Systems-Research Download

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Health

WHO Report Highlights Global Drowning Burden as MakSPH Contributes to Evidence and Action

Published

7 days ago

May 6, 2026

John Okeya

Demonstration of emergency medical procedures performed by the Uganda Red Cross Society at the first-ever National Water Safety Swimming Gala organised by the Ministry of Water and Environment at Greenhill Academy in Kibuli on March 21, 2026. Photo: Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University School of Public Health, through its Centre for the Prevention of Trauma, Injury and Disability, contributed to the Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention 2024, the first comprehensive global assessment of drowning burden, risk factors, and country-level responses.

Published by the World Health Organisation, the report estimates that approximately 300,000 people died from drowning in 2021, with the highest burden in low- and middle-income countries, which account for 92% of deaths. The African Region records the highest mortality rate, underscoring the urgency of targeted interventions. Children and young people remain the most affected, with drowning ranking among the leading causes of death for those under 15 years.

While global drowning rates have declined by 38% since 2000, progress remains uneven and insufficient to meet broader development targets. The report highlights critical gaps in national responses, including limited multisectoral coordination, weak policy and legislative frameworks, and inadequate integration of key preventive measures such as swimming and water safety education.

It further identifies persistent data limitations, with many countries lacking detailed information on where and how drowning occurs, constraining the design of targeted interventions. At the same time, the report notes progress in selected areas, including early warning systems and community-based disaster risk management.

MakSPH’s contribution to this global evidence base reflects its role in advancing research, strengthening data systems, and supporting context-specific approaches to injury prevention. Through its Centre, the School continues to inform policy and practice, contributing to efforts to reduce drowning risks and improve population health outcomes in Uganda and similar settings.

The full report can be accessed below:

Global-status-report-drowning-1 Download

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Health

MakSPH Contributes to Global Strategy to Reduce Drowning Deaths

Published

1 week ago

May 5, 2026

John Okeya

Illustrative photo of a man splashing in a water body. Photo: MakSPH

Makerere University School of Public Health, through its Center for the Prevention of Trauma, Injury and Disability, contributed to the Global Strategy for Drowning Prevention (2025–2035): Turning the Tide on a Leading Killer, a landmark framework guiding coordinated global action to reduce drowning.

Developed through the Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention, a multi-agency platform hosted by the World Health Organization, the strategy identifies drowning as a leading yet preventable cause of death, responsible for over 300,000 deaths annually. The burden falls disproportionately on low- and middle-income countries, particularly among children and young people.

The strategy sets a global target of reducing drowning deaths by 35% by 2035 and outlines six strategic pillars, including governance, multisectoral coordination, data systems, advocacy, financing, and research. It also prioritises ten evidence-based interventions such as strengthening supervision, improving water safety and swimming skills, enhancing rescue capacity, and enforcing safety regulations.

MakSPH’s inclusion in the Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention reflects its contribution to advancing research, policy engagement, and capacity strengthening in injury prevention. Through its Centre, the School supports the generation and application of context-specific evidence, positioning itself as a key contributor to global efforts to reduce drowning and strengthen community resilience.

The full document can be accessed below:

Global-strategy-for-drowning-prevention-1 Download

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