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FAIMER Regional Institute Launched at MakCHS

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On 10th May 2023, the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER)[1], East Africa FAIMER Regional Institute (EAFRI) was launched at a colourful ceremony held at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS). The EAFRI will operate a multilateral partnership model, with MakCHS, serving as a host institution and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Faculty of Medicine, serving as MakCHS’s regional partner. Professor Sarah Kiguli from MakCHS will serve as Director of EAFRI assisted by Professor Samuel Maling from MUST as Associate Director.

MakCHS was competitively awarded to host the EAFRI making it the 10th regional FAIMER institute established across the world alongside the ones in Chile, China, Egypt, India and Indonesia. Since its establishment in 2000, FAIMER has to-date trained 2000 Fellows in 55 Countries world-wide. It is expected that the EAFRI will expand FAIMER’s reach to promote health professions education and workforce development in additional areas of interest and bring service closer to participants in the region.

The first cohort of 12-15 fellows for the EAFRI is expected in August 2023 selected through a competitive application process and the tuition for will be free.

The new institute will serve health professions educators in East Africa including Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, the Comoros, the Seychelles, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Mauritius. EAFRI will also consider applicants from other regions of Africa. The core curriculum of EAFRI will be based on that of the International FAIMER Institute based in Philadelphia, U.S.A, which teaches education methods, leadership & management, education scholarship & research, and project management and evaluation.

Prof. Damalie Nakanjako (L) presents the EAFRI Director-Prof. Sarah Kiguli a the launch, Davies Lecture Theatre, CHS, Makerere University, Mulago Hill, Kampala Uganda.
Prof. Damalie Nakanjako (L) presents the EAFRI Director-Prof. Sarah Kiguli a the launch.

Professor Annette Nakimuli, Dean-School of Medicine, MakCHS who was the Master of Ceremony at the launch welcomed guests to the event, more especially the FAIMER team that travelled from the USA. Guests in attendance physically and virtually included staff from Makerere University, MUST, FAIMER Fellows and partners.

In their remarks, the Intealth/FAIMER team: Dr. William Pinsky, Dr. Ron Blanck and Dr. Rashmi Vyas shared the strategy for the organisation. They congratulated Makerere University and MUST for being selected to host the EAFRI and look forward to having more FAIMER Fellows on board through the EAFRI.

In her remarks, Professor Damalie Nakanjako – Principal MakCHS welcomed guests to MakCHS, noting that this is a memorable event for the College and Makerere University.  ‘Warm welcome to the FAIMER team that travelled from USA to witness this important occasion and the FAIMER fellows attending physically and virtually’, Professor Nakanjako added. She reiterated that hosting the EAFRI is an honor for MakCHS because it matches the College’s core mandate of training and research; and brings a service closer to African participants as opposed to travelling to other institutions where costs are incurred.

In his remarks delivered virtually, Professor Celestino Obua, Vice Chancellor – MUST welcomed guests to the launch. He said, ‘as MUST we are very proud to be part of the consortium. There are multiple benefits not only for Uganda but other sub-Saharan nations, communities and health professions’.

Dr. Ngonzi Joseph, Dean-Faculty of Medicine, MUST reiterated the message of Professor Obua and said, ‘MUST is committed and looking forward to a fruitful relationship as the partners work to produce FAIMER fellows who will support health professions education’. He pledged on behalf of MUST, strong unwavering support to EAFRI.

Associate Director EAFRI, Prof. Samuel Maling makes his remarks, Davies Lecture Theatre, CHS, Makerere University, Mulago Hill, Kampala Uganda.
Associate Director EAFRI, Prof. Samuel Maling makes his remarks.

The new Director, Professor Sarah Kiguli and Associate Director, Professor Samuel Maling were presented to the members present.

Professor Kiguli said, ‘I have to believe that when one wishes for something to happen, it eventually does’. She noted that MakCHS has been working to have the EAFRI since 2007, which has been a long journey and engagement with FAIMER and therefore a dream is realized.

Prof. Maling said, ‘the quality of health services and life are as good as the educators and the products they produce. It is the plan of EAFRI to deliver the good educators who will contribute to the health services and quality of life’.

The Directors acknowledged the support of FAIMER in agreeing to establish EAFRI. They also expressed the appreciation of the leadership at Makerere University and MUST. The directors pledged to do their best in delivering the dream of the EAFRI.


[1] FAIMER was established in 2000 as a non-profit foundation of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). FAIMER and ECFMG now are members of Intealth, which brings together the expertise and resources of the two non-profit organizations to advance quality in health care education worldwide to improve health care for all. Intealth unites FAIMER and ECFMG under a common vision: to be the trusted global authority on health care education.

Zaam Ssali

Health

Ugandan sickle cell researchers keep pace with aging patients

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Dr. Sarah Kiguli of Makerere University leads the Fogarty-funded program: Enhancing Research capacity for Sickle Cell Disease and related NCDs across the Lifespan in Uganda (ENRICH).

Article courtesy Fogarty International Center

September/October 2024 | Volume 23 Number 5

Until recently in Uganda, most children with sickle cell disease (SCD) never celebrated their fifth birthday—only 30% lived past this milestone. This low survival rate was mainly due to inadequate health care interventions for these children, plus lack of widespread newborn screening, explains Dr. Sarah Kiguli , a professor at Makerere University College of Health Sciences. Things are different today. Over the past decade, the East African nation has instituted a policy of screening newborns while strengthening strategies to manage their health. This means more children with SCD are growing into adolescence and adulthood.

Challenges still exist, says Kiguli. For example, the community and district facilities where many Ugandan children are born cannot provide comprehensive services, including newborn screening. Another issue: the risk of SCD complications related to kidneys, lungs, heart—almost all organs—grows higher as patients grow older, yet scientific research in Uganda hasn’t caught up with the reality of these longer lives. As a result, teens and adults with SCD don’t get “the care they deserve,” says Kiguli.

“It’s very painful for us pediatricians to see our patients encounter challenges and problems when they transition to adult care.”

Renewed research focus

Despite years devoted to children’s health, Kiguli believes it’s time to prioritize studies exploring appropriate SCD management in teens and adults. “We need solutions that address all the patients’ needs, including reproductive health, as they transition out of childhood.” She’s spearheaded a multidisciplinary research training program for researchers focused on the needs of people with SCD at all ages: Enhancing Research capacity for Sickle Cell Disease and related NCDs across the Lifespan in Uganda (ENRICH).

“Among our PhDs, we don’t have anyone from pediatrics—and that’s fine,” says Kiguli. Importantly, the researchers are trained as a group to amplify the benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration. “We’ve been working in silos—pediatricians alone, physicians alone, social scientists alone—that won’t help us address the comprehensive needs of these patients.”

Methodology has also been given sufficient consideration. “We provide both individual and team mentorship from the beginning,” said Kiguli. Monthly meetings help trainees develop personal development goals and career path plans in the hope they will continue in the field. The program also provides research training to health professionals, such as medical doctors, laboratory personnel, and nurses, who are not necessarily doing degree programs, “so those who manage patients routinely might also benefit,” said Kiguli.

South-to-South unity

For the project, Makerere University has partnered with Busitema University, located in eastern Uganda, where “prevalence of the sickle cell trait is as high as 20%,” says Kiguli. (Sickle cell trait refers to when a person has inherited one mutated allele of the sickle cell gene, not two.) This local prevalence contrasts with about 13% prevalence elsewhere in the country. Studying the disease in a high burden locale is highly relevant, because results may influence policy and treatment guidelines.

Kiguli has other reasons for collaborating with Busitema University, which is less than 15 years old. “We want to build capacity at this young institution since our colleagues there have less chance of doing research than we at Makerere do.” Working and supervising trainees together will give Busitema’s faculty much-needed experience, while providing opportunities for faculty at both universities to learn from each other. Kiguli also hopes the new collaboration will advance progress made as result of the universities’ past partnerships. “Capacity must be built in a sustainable way,” says Kiguli.

“It’s important to work collaboratively and not competitively—this is just as important for Makerere University as it is for Busitema University.”

ENRICH trainees talk about their projects

Dr. Jackline Akello
Photo courtesy of Jackline Akello

Dr. Jackline Akello, PhD candidate

Dr. Jackline Akello, PhD candidate

My project is “Sickle cell disease in pregnancy: Experiences in provision and access to care and adverse pregnancy outcomes at Mbale and Kawempe Referral Hospitals.” As an obstetrician and gynecologist, I work as a lecturer at Makerere University and provide clinical care at the two national referral hospitals. I have encountered significant challenges in managing pregnant women with sickle cell disease (SCD) due to a number of healthcare navigation challenges. Additionally, the diverse cultural beliefs associated with SCD in Uganda affect access to care and ultimately outcome and quality of life for the patient.

By October, I will have started the enrolment of 161 pregnant women with confirmed SCD for my project. These participants will be followed throughout their pregnancies to track maternal and fetal complications, including stillbirths and low birth weight. Their experiences with the healthcare system will also be explored. As a Safe Motherhood champion, I have been focusing on hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, but this October at the Safe Motherhood Conference I will discuss the effects of SCD during pregnancy with the Ministry of Health. One of the endpoints of my study is to improve care for pregnant women who have SCD to enhance their pregnancy experience and outcomes.

Dr. George Paasi
Photo courtesy of George Paasi

Dr. George Paasi, PhD candidate

Dr. George Paasi, PhD candidate

My project is “The Clinical Epidemiology, Spatiotemporal Patterns and Disease Modifiers of Severe Malaria among Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Eastern Uganda.” Uganda ranks fourth among countries with high burden of SCD and is in the top 10 with respect to malaria burden. Eastern Uganda has the highest burden of both diseases. My project addresses this dual burden of SCD and malaria in eastern Uganda—I want to decipher the SCD-malaria syndemic in this region.

I’m a medical doctor, I have a master’s in public health, and I just finished a fellowship in infectious disease, epidemiology, and biostatistics. I’ve worked at Mbale Clinical Research Institute for the last 10 years. Previously, I worked on an NIH-funded trial in Africa called Realizing Effectiveness Across Continents with Hydroxyurea (REACH) as a medical officer, and now I’m embarking on this PhD training. My hope is that the findings from my study will improve the identification of patients with SCD at risk of adverse outcomes when they get malaria. I also want to identify, through spatial temporal analysis, hotspot locations that require priority interventions. I also want to gain skills as an independent researcher in SCD and make a meaningful contribution to this field.

Dr. Anita Arinda
Photo courtesy of Anita Arinda Dr. Anita Arinda, PhD candidate

Dr. Anita Arinda, PhD candidate

My project is “Prevalence, associated factors, course and impact of major depressive disorder in adolescents with SCD in Mulago National Referral Hospital.” We have limited data on mental health of adolescents with SCD, so that’s why my project mainly looks at depression in adolescents (ages 10 to 17).

In our setting, we are fortunate that children with SCD live past their fifth birthday thanks to improved health care, but this presents new challenges. During adolescence, patients enter a crucial stage where they’re trying to develop their identity, yet they’re also beginning to understand the implications of their condition—that having this serious health condition cuts their life short. I want to understand their experiences. How does depression in adolescents with SCD differ from depression in adolescents without SCD? We know that sickle cell disease causes inflammation, so does that contribute to their depression? How does depression affect clinical outcomes, if at all?

If we can understand the underlying mechanisms of depression in teens with SCD, then we might find new ways to manage their care (as opposed to conventional treatment with antidepressants). I’ll do my research at Mulago National Referral Hospital, which has a clinic dedicated to children and teens with sickle cell disease. The clinic provides many services, but unfortunately no specialized mental health services. One day I hope that changes, so that children with SCD and depression can get help early.

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Job Advert: Position of Principal -College of Health Sciences

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Makerere University seeks to fill the position of Principal, College of Health Sciences. The College of Health Sciences is a semi-autonomous academic unit, which consists of Schools, Academic Institutes, Departments and Centers that carry out general and professional training, teaching, outreach and research in various disciplines.

Job description
The Position is a Senior Post in the University created to give leadership to a College of Makerere University.

The Principal is the Chief Administrative, Academic and Financial Officer of the College and is responsible to the Vice Chancellor, University Senate and the University Council for promoting and maintaining academic excellence, efficiency and order of the College.
Eligibility
The person eligible for appointment should possess the following minimum attributes:

  • Hold a PhD or other academic Doctorate in one or more of the disciplines taught at the College;
  • Be at least at the rank of Associate Professor at the time of application;
  • At least four ( 4) years managerial expenence as a Head of an academic Department, Programmes Coordinator or a Research Project Manager in a University, Tertiary Institution or a reputable National Research Institution
  • Teaching experience of at least Six ( 6) years in one of the disciplines offered in the College he/she intends to lead;
  • Applicants who are at the rank of Associate Professor should not be above 61 years at the time of application.
  • Applicants who are at the rank of Professor should not be above 66 years at the time of application
  • Applicants must have demonstrable expenence of networking, research and resource mobilization. Applicants must attach evidence of resource mobilization and research conducted in the last five years.
  • Be a citizen of Uganda.

Tenure
The Principal is appointed to hold office for a term of four years.
Salary: Scale PU3
Mode of application:

i) Interested individuals should submit a letter of application accompanied with Curriculum Vitae, copies of relevant Academic Credentials and naming three referees;

ii) Applicants should make sure that at least two of the three referees have forwarded references concerning their application and suitability by the stated deadline;

iii) The deadline for submission of applications is 7th October 2024 at 5:00p.m.
East African time.

Applications should be submitted to:

The University Secretary
Makerere University
Frank Kalimuzo Building, Study Room 4.1
P.O. Box 7062
Kampala, Uganda
Or search.principals@mak.ac. ug

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IMPACT Program Newsletter Sept. 2024

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A Screenshot of the IMPACT Program Newsletter September 2024. College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

A very special welcome to the first edition of our newsletter of Makerere University’s Impact research capacity building program. The program is funded by a generous grant from the NIH Fogarty International Center to reduce the impact of rheumatic heart disease across all affected ages. For more than a decade Uganda has been at the fore front of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) research in sub-Saharan Africa. Building on that Foundation Makerere University College of Health Sciences decided it was opportune time to strengthen collaboration with Uganda Heart Institute and US partners: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre (CCHMC) and Children’s National Hospital (CNH) to uplift Uganda’s research capacity to innovate and generate knowledge critical for elimination of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in the long run.

Whereas doctoral training of doctors and nurses is the main focus of our capacity strengthening initiatives, other levels are not left behind. Training is concurrently ongoing at master’s degree level and in-service for health professionals to better their research careers. The training spots were nationally advertised publicly and recruitment of trainees was competitive. Major research activities are taking place in rural communities in which rheumatic fever is relatively common. The program puts emphasis on community engagement so that the public can understand the importance and centrality of their actions in the control and elimination of rheumatic fever and achieving better quality of life and survival of those having rheumatic heart disease and its complications. The program pays special attention to gender issues in the research we do.

Prof. Emeritus Nelson Sewankambo
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Mark Wamai

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