Health
Makerere University’s Mentorship Programme brings quality improvement at Ntuusi Health Centre IV in Sembabule
By Agnes Namaganda
On 10th June 2022, a team from the Ministry of Health, and Makerere University, visited Ntuusi Health Centre IV in Sembabule district. This visit was a follow-up on a mentorship training that was done at the health centre a month earlier by Makerere University under the RMNCAH (Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health) Project.
The RMNCAH project is housed under the Child Health and Development Centre (Mak-CHDC) which is in the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University. It is a collaboration between Mak-CHDC and several health professional associations like UNMU (Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union), (UPA) Uganda Paediatric Association, (AAU) Association of Anesthesiologists of Uganda and (AOGU) Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Uganda.
The main objective of the project is to coordinate these Health Professional Associations and Regional Referral Hospitals (RRHs) in implementation and provision of mentorship for RMNCAH at general hospitals, Health Centre IVs, and Health Centre IIIs in the Central South Region of Uganda.
The visiting team was led by the Director of Mak-CHDC, Dr. Herbert Muyinda. Dr. Eleanor Nakintu and her team from BAMA (Babies and Mothers Alive) was part of the team doing the monitoring and training. Dr. Gonzaga Ssenyondo, a Senior Obstetrics/ Gynaecologist Consultant at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital was also part of the team that was following to check if RMNCAH’s recommendations to the health facility during their previous visit had been implemented.
Dr. Ssenyondo thanked the staff for the great work and gave tips to the health staff about improving the quality of care at the health centre. He said this was key to seeing an improvement in the perception that the community has about the health centre. He also commended the health facility team for implementing many of the recommendations that had been cited as challenges at the previous visit. These included; painting the health facility, and improving the theatre.
This team was later joined by the Commissioner in charge of Reproductive Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Richard Mugahi, the Chief Administrative Officer of Sembabule, the Town Clerk, the District Health Officer, and his Assistant.
According to the staff of Ntuusi Health Centre, challenges they face include shortage of medicines, limited human resource, no promotion at the workplace even after further studies, no accommodation at the workplace and uncoordinated transfers. These were all communicated to Dr. Mugahi.
To solve the problem of staffing, Dr. Mugahi promised that the facility will get another officer in less than 2 months. This would relieve Dr. Mohammed Kawuki, the health centre in-charge, of the heavy workload. He also promised to recruit an anesthetist for the health centre speedily to relieve the current anesthetist, Edwina Turyahebwa, of the heavy workload. He also promised to solve the issue of housing for the staff.
On the other hand, the Chief Administrative Officer promised to give the Centre an ambulance so that complicated cases are quickly referred to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.
With each piece of good news, the staff who were in high spirits, gave a thunderous clap. The Commissioner informed the staff that he had worked in several health facilities all over the country. Having began his health services career as a VHT, he said he could perfectly identify with the challenges that the staff were facing like the lack of accommodation.
The Commissioner also affirmed that the staff would be getting a salary increase which government had promised in the next financial year that is starting in July, 2022. However, government was going to keep a close eye on them to make sure they perform accordingly.
Email the Writer: agnesvioletnamaganda@gmail.com
Agriculture & Environment
Makerere Hosts Inaugural Falling Walls Lab Competition as Innovators Pitch Solutions to National Challenges
Students and researchers from Makerere University and other institutions pitched 12 innovations addressing challenges in healthcare, clean energy, agriculture, waste management and community resilience during the inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala, held at the School of Public Health Auditorium, Makerere University.
The competition brought together emerging innovators to present solutions to practical challenges through a three minute pitch, followed by questions from a panel of judges.
Modelled on the Falling Walls format that originated in Berlin, the event required each participant to identify a “wall” a problem or barrier, and demonstrate how their innovation seeks to break it down.
Mudhasi wins with newborn jaundice screening device
Andrew Mudhasi of Makerere University emerged as the overall winner with a score of 90 per cent for a low cost medical device designed to improve newborn jaundice screening across different skin tones.
Mudhasi explained that the device uses optical sensor technology and a skin tone targeting algorithm to provide a rapid reading, with the aim of helping nurses and clinicians identify jaundice more efficiently.
During questions from the jury, Mudhasi said the device had not yet been tested on actual babies but had undergone laboratory testing using simulated skin tones.
He reported an accuracy rate of 94 per cent when the device was compared with laboratory spectrophotometers.
The innovation is intended initially for use in clinics and hospitals, with Mudhasi saying the team is also considering a version that could eventually allow mothers to screen babies at home.
Mudhasi’s innovation has previously received recognition at the African Business Concept Challenge and the iF Design Student Award, according to his presentation.
Rhonda’s innovation tackles diaper waste
Rhoda John of the University of Nairobi emerged in second place with 89.6 per cent for an innovation addressing the problem of used diaper waste.
Under the theme “Breaking the wall of diaper waste and drug soils,” Rhonda explained that her team extracts sodium polyacrylate, the absorbent polymer found in diapers, and replaces the sodium with potassium.
The resulting potassium based superabsorbent material is designed to act as a “water battery” in soil by absorbing and retaining water for plants during dry periods.
John said testing showed a 99 per cent increase in germination and a 23 per cent increase in drought resistance.
The innovation also seeks to reduce the amount of used diapers ending up in landfills and the environmental effects associated with their decomposition.
During the question and answer session, John explained that her team was working with government environmental officials in Nairobi on a pilot collection system to address the challenge of gathering used diapers at scale.
Mahera takes third place with herbal peptic ulcer treatment
Stuart Mahera of Makerere University finished third with 86.2 per cent for a herbal formulation targeting peptic ulcers.
Presenting under the theme “Breaking the wall of Nature and Modern Medicine,” Mahera argued that conventional treatment for peptic ulcers can involve multiple medicines and may be associated with side effects and antimicrobial resistance.
His proposed formulation, MARAC capsules, is intended as a monotherapy, combining properties required for peptic-ulcer treatment in a single capsule.
Mahera said his team had carried out quality control work, including characterisation and dose quantification, and had conducted preclinical trials on laboratory mice.
He also told the jury that an application had been submitted to the National Drug Authority as the team awaits the next stage of the regulatory process.
According to Mahera, the proposed seven day treatment would cost about Shs21,000, compared with the existing 14 day treatment approach.
Innovators present solutions to practical challenges
The remaining presentations covered a wide range of challenges.
Esther Nakungu of Utamu University presented Agri-Track, a digital record keeping solution intended to improve visibility, accountability and management of farm operations and financial information.
Dr. Jimmy Chachiga, a Makerere University participant, presented a solar photovoltaic cooker with a heat storage system designed to provide a cleaner and more reliable cooking option during both sunny and non sunny periods.
His presentation focused on reducing dependence on biomass fuels and addressing the challenges associated with intermittent solar energy.
Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student and senior government fisheries officer, presented a mobile application aimed at helping fish farmers and extension officers report, track and manage disease outbreaks.
Henry Duke Tamale presented a herbal cream targeting antibiotic resistant biofilm infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers.
Marvin Seruwu proposed adapting existing near infrared brain monitoring technology to help detect extra-axial brain bleeds in health facilities where access to CT and MRI equipment is limited.
His proposal seeks to repurpose existing technology towards a diagnostic need that could be particularly important in settings where advanced imaging facilities are not readily available.
Kennedy Kisame presented a poultry alert and diagnosis system combining satellite weather information with computer vision disease detection. The proposed system could be accessed through a smartphone application, SMS or USSD, making it potentially usable by farmers with limited internet access.
Frank Atwiine proposed a solar powered mobile diagnostic van designed to bring ultrasound and other diagnostic services closer to rural communities.
Johnson Makmot, a software and blockchain developer, presented a platform that combines GPS tracking and blockchain-based tokens to incentivise and verify plastic-waste collection in Kampala.
Dr. Nelson Ndugu, from a partner university, presented an artificial intelligence tool designed to translate agricultural research publications into local Ugandan languages and generate voice notes for radio-based extension delivery.
The final presentation came from Dr. Juliet Akola, a Ugandan post doctoral researcher at Mangosuthu University of Technology in South Africa.
Akola presented a community digital resilience initiative focused on mapping risks in Kampala’s informal settlements, including flooding, fire, poor sanitation, waste management and inadequate infrastructure.
Her proposal seeks to combine local community knowledge with geographical information systems and link identified risks to action plans involving municipalities and other stakeholders.
Nawangwe calls for more investment in innovation
Closing the event, Prof. Nawangwe congratulated all the participants and described their presentations as an important beginning for Makerere University, Uganda and the wider region.
Drawing on his experience attending the Falling Walls conference in Berlin, the Vice Chancellor said initiatives of this nature are important because innovation will play a major role in determining the future of countries.
He encouraged participants to make their pitches more precise by clearly identifying the problem they are addressing, explaining their proposed solution and demonstrating what they have already achieved.
Prof. Nawangwe also welcomed the participation of innovators from other universities and countries, noting that the Kampala event had attracted participants beyond Makerere.
He thanked the Africa Office of the Falling Walls Foundation for its role in bringing the initiative to Makerere and encouraged continued support for innovation.
The Vice Chancellor further linked innovation to Uganda’s growing youth population and the need to develop home-grown solutions to address challenges such as youth unemployment.
The inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala ultimately provided a platform for innovators to move ideas beyond the classroom and laboratory and demonstrate how research, technology and creativity can be applied to challenges affecting communities.
| Position | Winner | Institution | Score |
| 1st | Andrew Mudhasi | Makerere University | 90% |
| 2nd | Rhoda John | University of Nairobi | 89.6% |
| 3rd | Stuart Mahera | Makerere University | 86.2% |
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