MESAU

PRODUCED QUARTERLY BY THE MESAU CONSORTIUM; A MEPI INITIATIVE Volume 1, Issue 2 • December 2011 MESAU Consortium pays courtesy call on Newsthe Vice Chancellor, University of Science and Technology

By Dennis Lukaaya

he MESAU Consortium is a country-wide partnership of five medical schools in : Busitema University, University, TInternational University, Makerere College of Health Sciences and Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda with Johns Hopkins University support to catalyze capacity and performance enhancements in and relevant research with a focus on excellent, nationwide service delivery.

The MESAU Principal Investigator, Professor Nelson K. Sewankambo led Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) representatives from the Consortium and the Harvard Global Health Institute institutions that paid a courtesy call at Harvard University in the US. “The Contents on Professor F.I.B Kayanja, the Mbarara relationship policy there is very good University Vice Chancellor in his office and if well studied, it can be emulated” u MESAU Consortium on Thursday October 6, 2011. They were said Professor Kayanja. pays courtesy call ushered in by Dr Samuel Maling the MUST- MESAU liaison. In response Professor Sewankambo noted that it was indeed an important u MESAU/ MEPI is a The Vice Chancellor warmly welcomed issue that has been raised on a number timely partner in KIU’s the team and was glad that they found of occasions and deserves attention. He move some time to call on him. He spoke of reiterated that, “as a consortium, this is the great commitment that Mbarara a challenge we can highlight since we University attaches to the MESAU have a big voice’’. He informed Professor u The 2nd annual Consortium initiatives and noted that Kayanja that the Consortium was in an national family upbeat spirit and progressing well with it had gone a long way in assisting medicine scientific the training of health professionals at great enthusiasm and commitment Mbarara , “we appreciate of its members. The spirit to share the conference the work of MESAU at Mbarara resources under MESAU was indeed a University and are happy that we have very welcome innovation that has been u That unforgettable overcome many challenges through the bought into by other partners because MESAU initiative”. He suggested that the it demonstrates that, “it is about working Ride medical schools of Gulu, Makerere and together and not competition” an Mbarara sit down and come up with a idea that has impressed the National u The Numbers Game better system that would enhance the Institutes of Health (NIH). relationships with the teaching hospitals giving his experience of the excellent On the slow opening of Busitema Medical u MESAU PhD Fellows School, a concern to National Institutes and cordial relationship between Selected to pg3

MAKERERE UNIVERSITY 1 MESAU Newsletter

EDITORIAL MESAU/ MEPI is a timely partner in Hello reader, Kampala International University’s move welcome you to our second to overhaul training of medical doctors in edition of MESAU News; a Iquarterly publication of the Uganda MESAU Consortium in Uganda. MESAU (Medical Education for Services to All Ugandans) is a Ben Oonge, Kampala International University Medical Education Partnership and Management Service (COBERMS) Initiative (MEPI) Consortium in The doctors: patient ratio in Uganda is for four categories of the Kampala Uganda. so alarming with more than 1 doctor International University- Western attending to over 40,000 patients and Campus students -Medical, Nursing, This quarterly publication provides the situation is even worse in rural Clinical medicine and Community you, our stakeholder, with regular areas of the country where 80% of the Health, and pharmacy. updates from consortium members. population lives. In this second edition of the Under this approach, the following newsletter, we share with you the Poor distribution and use of traditional activities were conducted in the recent outcome of the visit by consortium training methods in medical schools are past: partly to blame. Majority of Ugandans member to Mbarara University of struggle to be seen by a doctor, with • A series of Community activities Science and Technology (MUST). many of them dying before being seen were organized in selected There was a rich discussion between by one. counties comprising of 16 the MUST Vice Chancellor Professor villages in District for Kayanja and his guests. Find out Amongst the several challenges is a total of 160 trainees from the what they discussed and how it the lack of effective deployment and University (those in COBERMS1 impacts the implementation of appropriate training programs for and COBERMS 2) who visited MESAU. medical doctors and other health the community. workers to fit the lives and needs of • They were divided into 16 Read about the improvements in people (especially rural settings) in batches with more than 10 Disease Endemic Countries (DECs). members in a team. A team teaching and research at Kampala leader was appointed by the International University, as a result Achieving equity and equality in the members of the team and each of activities and interventions health of people and effective access team was dispatched under the supported by MESAU. and delivery of health services in Sub supervision of a tutor in public Saharan Africa has been an area of major health to each village At College global concern. Despite huge funds • Detailed demographic data of of Health Sciences, students have provided to improve health facilities and the population was carried out taken equitable services to all systems, Diseases Endemic Countries by individual home visits, using Ugandans idea to heart. Read (DECs) still suffer setbacks in providing interviews and a structured about the services they are offering sustainable health care for their questionnaire. people and meeting the Millennium to Uganda’s rural poor as they Development Goals (MDGs). • The data obtained was used also learn and gain the necessary to determine population attitudinal competence to work in So, improving the rural population’s distribution by age and sex, rural Uganda. access to health services and reducing Disease morbidity, level of the poor-rich differentials is the wish of education, no of families, How does MESAU contribute to every health professional in Uganda. marriageable ages in the the PEPFAR target of 140,000 new community, no of new births, health workers? Find out in this Effective training and deployment of the no of deaths, migration newsletter! next generation of medical doctors and status, student population, other health workers to contribute to unemployed population and better service delivery in rural Uganda other population description Plus; we unveil the new beneficiaries is the dream of Kampala International data. of the MESAU PhD scholarships. University; one of the universities with Read and celebrate with them! health training programs and a MESAU • The nutritional profile of the partner institution. community was evaluated in Plus a lot more reading that will respect of the type of food stimulate your interest in MESAU The university through partnership with eaten; cooking habits, types of further! MESAU/ MEPI has engaged students in a food available, nutritional value more innovative community outreach of the food, frequency of eating program where medical students spend and level of health education a total of six (6) weeks carrying out on food. Community Based Education Research

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An analysis of the information gathered during COBERMS placement was done by the different teams of trainees in the villages and the collected data were used to diagnose the health challenges of the community. Reports were dispatched to various stakeholders at the district for decision making.

Generally, students liked being in the villages since they had established rapport and working relationships with the community members and on their final day they exchanged gifts with the people they interacted with during their stay. This, I think, is a milestone in inculcating the right attitude in student doctors. Their involvement in the various activities like cleaning of village water wells, health talks and community roundup cleaning programs, was also a good approach to enable them appreciate the conditions under which rural communities live.

This activity was made possible by the funding from MESAU/ MEPI to Kampala International University with the main objective of increasing contact between the population and the medical trainees in Uganda. Kampala International University medical trainees Kampala International University medical trainees working with members of the community to clean conducting health education in one of the communities in water sources Bushenyi district

From 1 MESAU Consortium pays courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Mbarara University of Science and Technology the opening of another much needed of Health (NIH), Professor Kayanja in a getting new focus towards its resolution. Medical School in Uganda at Busitema. candid peer advisory tone said that the They appreciated the peer advice and predicament of Busitema needed a clear welcomed the continued support Professor Sewankambo thanked the position from the Ministry of Education that they were receiving from the Vice Chancellor for the time accorded to to guide the National Council for Higher Consortium. Their pledge was not to give the Consortium members and the wise Education which he fortunately chairs. into the challenge but find constructive Counsel shared on unlocking the issue He prayed that the Consortium will help partnerships with all stakeholders to with opening Busitema Medical School. in dealing with the biggest challenge resolve the matter that would lead to He expressed happiness with Mbarara to Busitema’s opening of the medical University’s continued support and school a situation he referred to as ‘ambivalence’ in some quarters resulting active participation in the Consortium, from the fear to wipe out the lower level informing Professor Kayanja that his medical and health institutions at the team will conduct a supervisory tour of hosting sites, adding, “you want not to Mbarara in 2012. ‘kill’ anything’’. He drew on the Kenyan experience where lower level health Dennis Lukaaya professional training institutions have Mbarara University of Science and been maintained. The representatives Technology, Office of Public Relations from Busitema acknowledged their [email protected]/dlukaaya@must. predicament and viewed it as a positive ac.ug challenge which they reported was

3 THE 2ND ANNUAL NATIONAL FAMILY Mentorship at Makerere University College of MEDICINE SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE Health Sciences

ENDS IN UGANDA By Jane Namatovu: Lecturer and Chairperson Dept. of Family Medicine The 2nd annual Family Medicine Medicine, Makerere University College scientific Conference was held on 10th of Health Sciences. Mentoring is a process where an and 11th November 2011. The theme of experienced, highly regarded, the conference was Improving Health Many presentations were made and a empathetic person (mentor) guides Systems in Africa; the Contribution of lot of lessons were learnt. Of particular another individual (the mentee) in the nd Family Medicine. importance was the 2 Prof. John development and examination of their Memorial Lecture which was delivered own ideas, learning and personal and The main focus of the conference by Prof. Rapheal Owor former Dean professional development. The mentor was to share knowledge, experiences Faculty of Medicine Makerere University. who often but not necessarily works in and ideas on how the discipline of It was full of original ideas and focused the same organization or field as the Family Medicine can be developed for on the evolution of medical training mentee achieves this by listening and affordable improved quality of care in Uganda and how the training of talking in confidence to the mentee. which is universally accessible to the Family Medicine started at Makerere Now, I have a mentor! What does this whole population. The conference University as Community Practice. Two mean? I have a shoulder to lean on, feel was attended by people from different workshops were held about South- more secure and confident. Two heads parts of the world. Family Physicians South Cooperation for Family Medicine are better than one especially when one from all kinds of practice attended the development and Grant Procurement head is more experienced in decision conference and developed interest in respectively. Both workshops were very making, leadership and administration. working with the department of Family educative. As a mentee, I Medicine to advance training of family 1) Respect and trust my mentor medicine for both undergraduate and The conference was concluded with a 2) Remain open to feedback postgraduate students. Since the end of cocktail party attended by almost all 3) Keep meeting and regular the conference, four family physicians the participants. It was a lot of fun and consultation with my mentor have applied for posts of honorary there was a lot of networking for the for professional and personal lecturers in Department of Family development of Family Medicine. development. 4) Have clear expectations from my mentor 5) Have short, medium and long term goals set together with the mentor.

How do we do it? a) Setting agenda for regular meetings b) Respect for each other c) Ensuring clear communication of goals, objectives, activities and nd Left: Prof. Owor delivers the 2 Prof. John Ross Memorial Lecture. . Right: The Principal Makerere expected outcomes. College of Health Sciences Prof. Nelson Sewankambo presents about MESAU-MEPI and Family d) Honour and respect of Medicine. confidentiality e) Free acceptance of mistakes and errors. f) Keeping open minds to new ideas. g) Regular evaluation of all the activities involved.

Under normal circumstances, the mentee identifies a mentor and the relationship begins. However, sometimes the institution assigns a mentee to a mentor because it is deemed necessary for the success of the institution. Mentorship is an on-going and life-long process and I am sure of learning many more things. I encourage everybody especially those in leadership positions to identify mentors as early as possible. This will help to develop staff in the College of Health Sciences in all aspects of life. Some of the participants of the 2nd Family Medicine Scientific Conference in Uganda Kampala

4 That MESAU- MEPI Promotes Family Medicine unforgettable Networking Ride: the Journey to Dr. Jane Namatovu, Lecturer centers in various communities and Department of Family Medicine and learnt a lot from their organisation, Mbarara Community Practice management and how community participation can be encouraged in the Dr. Innocent Besigye, Assistant Lecturer By Ruth Nabaggala, Harriet Nambooze Department of Family Medicine and development of health services. This and Regina Namirembe, MakCHS Community Practice enriched our global understanding and perspective of Family Medicine. Mbarara is located in the Western Region “It is better to spend the day making We have started realizing the fruits friends than digging”. This is an old of Uganda and it’s about 200kms from of our networking efforts at that Kampala. The journey from Kampala adage which stresses the importance of conference. The colleagues we met to Mbarara takes 3-4 hours on average. networking. from the International University of Rwanda came to Uganda and attended The place is known for being the source The MESAU-MEPI project sponsored the Second Annual Family Medicine of matooke and milk that feed the ever two Family Medicine staff of Makerere Scientific Conference and submitted growing Kampala population. Mbarara University College of Health Sciences to very interesting abstracts about Family town is one of the fastest growing towns attend the VLIR-Primafamed Workshop medicine in the Republic of Rwanda. We in Uganda. It is the home of Mbarara in Cape Town South Africa 10th-13th July shared a lot during this conference and University of Science and Technology 2011. we hope to strengthen our networking The participants of this workshop were (MUST), one of the MESAU partner efforts. from all over the world in the Family institutions. Away from the hustle and bustle of Medicine fraternity and included; At the same conference in South Africa, Kampala, Mbarara offers a breezy and family physicians, well-wishers and we also discussed how we can scale up advocates of Family Medicine. The training and practice of Family Medicine calm break from noisy Kampala. It is no theme of the workshop was: Advocacy in Uganda. This gave us proposal ideas wonder that when MUST suggested in Family Medicine and Development of and right now, we are writing a project hosting the 2011/2012 joint MESAU Community-Oriented Care in the Context proposal together with colleagues meeting there was no resistance from of Family Medicine in Sub-Saharan Africa. from Ghent University Belgium to this the other MESAU institutions. A lot of experiences, ideas and effect. We are very optimistic that this knowledge were shared. We met very project proposal will be funded so that It was a sunny midday on October 5th many family physicians from all over we achieve greater heights for Family the world. We visited community health when the MESAU first group composed Medicine in Uganda. of people who felt that they deserved some rest before the commencement of the joint MESAU meeting set off ahead of the others on the journey to Mbarara. Others planned to engage in conference calls later in the evening while others planned to tour the town. The second group mostly included individuals who felt that they needed to finish up some work before they started off the journey at 2:00pm

When traveling to Mbarara you cannot miss to enjoy the tasty “Gonja” plantain at Lukaya. However, if you are so particular about your health you cannot risk the roasted chicken and other types of meat, lest your tummy complains violently. This was no exception during the travel to Mbarara. UNRA has really improved the access to Mbarara with little bits of waiting for the caterpillars turning to remove or pour soil for construction. The stretch to Masaka is so tempting that you can accelerate continuously and Dr. Jane Namatovu and Dr. Innocent Besigye with Rwandese participants at the VLIR- Primafamed workshop in Cape Town South Africa thank God for the smooth road. to pg6

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From 5 Makerere University College of Health Unfortunately for the first group, their car broke down at Lwengo. As the car Sciences Students Give Back to Society was being repaired some people took off time to engage in conference calls, others dared to stand in the rain as they cleaned their shoes that were dirtied on the way while others stood by the mechanic as he did his stuff, just like students on clinical exposure. One cannot forget the mechanic, Bakabulindi Alias “minister’ who expertly worked on the car bearings supervised by professors and experts from the MakCHS to ensure that he does a good job.

The sympathizing second group that left MakCHS at 2:00 pm had to give a courtesy call to the first group though they could not help much given that none of them was an expert in the field. Had it been a health matter things would have been easier since the vehicle was full of doctors. Oh would it!!

Both groups reached Mbarara at about half past seven. Interestingly the group One of the students, Ms. Martha Asiimwe of Makerere University College of Health Sciences, which was expected to be in Mbarara attentively listening to one of the patients that turned up at the medical camp earlier ended up being the last after spending seven hours on the way!. They all boarded the bus armed with enough to handle over 1200 patients that turned up for the camp. It did not take the group long to enthusiasm, zeal and excitement. But The camp team Leader, Ms. Lydia forget their woes as the breeze at Lake most importantly for their hosts, they Nakanjako noted that there is great View Hotel was refreshing. This was were armed with an assortment of drugs need in the community for free compounded by the sumptuous African and supplies. medical care; although the camp was meals, really tailored to African appetites. 17th November 2011, the residents of Kiziba, Masuliita in Wakiso district targeting children, the number of adults that needed medical assistance was Business started on a light note were the beneficiaries of free medical overwhelmingly big. with representation from all MESAU care, courtesy of students of Makerere The most interesting and innovative institutions. One interesting bit was that University College of Health Sciences. aspect of this work was the fact that representatives from the institution that The students, under their association, the Makerere students chose not to it is closest to MUST were the last ones to Makerere University Medical Students alone and instead reached out to their arrive. As one group paid a courtesy call Association mobilised drugs and other counterparts in other Universities like to the Vice Chancellor of MUST, another resources from a variety of partners, Victoria University, which is a very new group continued with business as usual. including pharmaceutical companies, university in the country. This fostered Ohh though it was quite a busy day, it medical engineering companies, banks, the spirit of learning together; working was crowned with a great dinner that civil society and others and raised together and ensuring quality in the was organized by MUST at AGIP Motel.

This time we had to test the real Mbarara, with the ‘Eshabwe, the Matooke and the Karo’. Clear and colored water was available for everyone. Could you tell the color that was consumed most? Gifts were exchanged, speeches made, albeit with impaired ability (as an effect of the coloured water).

Soon, it was time to retire to our beds and get ready for another busy day. Left: The students were generously aided by Abacus Pharmaceuticals with an assortment of drugs that came in quite handy for the big number of patients that turned up Right: A student of Victoria University providing health education to the many residents of Kiziba and neighbouring areas that turned up to benefit from the free medical services 6 MESAU Newsletter

services provided. The medical camp preceded the 7th Annual Students Conference on Child Health, itself a collaborative effort this year, between Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Gulu University, Kampala International University and Victoria University. The two activities were carried out with a refreshing show of maturity, dynamism, respect for one another, enthusiasm and a desire to excel. One cannot stop hoping that this is the beginning of a new hope for the health sector in Uganda.

What else could that smile say, apart from; ‘Thank you so much MUMSA for looking out for us’

The Numbers Game: MESAU’s Contribution to PEPFAR’s Target of 140,000 New Health Workers By Rhona Baingana

The U.S. President’s Emergency enhance retention over time and in A new definition of “new” Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) areas where HCWs are most needed was launched in 2003 as an (MEPI’s second theme). This, in the metric: The number is the sum emergency response which focused long run, might be more effective at PEPFAR’sof new HCWs new HCW who graduatedefinition from and on establishing and scaling up ensuring sustainability. a pre-service training institution prevention, care and treatment within the reporting period with programs. PEPFAR’s phase II MESAU, nevertheless, is still full or partial PEPFAR support. strategy (2010-2014) is to transition expected to set “new” HCW targets In general, PEPFAR looks at pre- from an emergency response and to report on them. This message service training as minimally 6 to a greater focus on promoting came out loud and clear during months in duration. Training under sustainable country programs. the MEPI Coordinating Centre In order to ensure sustainability, Site Visit to MESAU when MESAU service” training – the training of one of PEPFAR’s targets is to representatives together with the this“new” indicator HCWs. All is training defined must as occur “pre- “support the training and retention then MEPI Program Coordinator Dr prior to the individual entering the of more than 140,000 new health Leticia Robinson met with various health workforce in his or her new care workers to strengthen health USG representatives including position. A health care worker who systems.” The Medical Education PEPFAR, CDC, USAID at the US transitions to another position (e.g., Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is one Embassy in Kampala. MESAU was a nurse completes medical school to of the approaches to meeting this told in no uncertain terms, “We become a doctor) shall be counted target. MEPI therefore has as one of want numbers”. as a “new” health care worker for its themes, “increasing the numbers the purposes of this indicator. of health care workers (HCWs) trained.”In a departure from this Old definitions of “New” theme, MESAU’s Aim 1 is to “improve Recently created or having documenting the different ways in the quality and relevance of medical started to exist recently Withwhich this MEPI, definition, through MESAU, we started was education and service training in Different to one that existed contributing to pre-service training Uganda”. MESAU did not set out, as earlier at our institutions, as long as the a primary objective or outcome, to Not yet familiar or experienced contribution was for a minimum of increase enrolment, and therefore Not previously used or owned 6 months. For example, MakCHS is the numbers graduating. MESAU Recently discovered or made establishing a Skills Laboratory as believes that improving quality known part of strengthening systems to and relevance through learning Source: Cambridge International support medical education (MESAU experiences such as COBERS will Dictionary of English Aim 3). Any student who uses the

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Skills Lab for at least 6 months would without PEPFAR Furthermore, it has been recognised therefore be counted towards the support that a systems approach is needed: “new” HCW target when he or she b. The quality of “Sustainably increasing the number graduated. It looked like we would the education of health workers completing pre- have respectable, if not impressive, would have been service education is dependent numbers to report. unacceptably low on a combination of factors……….. without PEPFAR Some predominant examples that A newer definition of “new” support were mentioned time and again CapacityPlus is a global project are: Curriculum development, uniquely focused on the health infrastructure improvements, faculty workforce needed to achieve the cannot count “continuing” students support, practicum/internship MDGs and is developing tools and With– any this students newer using definition, curricula we support, materials and equipment. guidance to track and count new that were being implemented This combined approach creates a HCWs being trained with PEPFAR before MESAU-MEPI because these greater likelihood that the system support. At a meeting on 9th students would still graduate if they will be able to produce more health November held at the Monitoring workers now and in the future. and Evaluation of Emergency in the curricula, with or without Simply increasing enrolment through Plan Progress (MEEPP) project metMESAU-MEPI the requirements inputs, such specified as the tuition support, for example, will not Skills Lab. The “new” HCWs we can be successful unless the students by MESAU and other PEPFAR consider are those using the revised also have access to qualified faculty, officeHRH in implementing Kampala and partners, attended competency-based curricula. The books, equipment, classrooms, CapacityPlus introduced another dormitories, running water, etc.” their integration into the curricula Source: CapacityPlus blog: http:// could be counted as a PEPFAR identificationwas considered of as competencies having set a new and www.capacityplus.org/counting- definitioncontribution of to “new”. the 140,000 Students new standard for graduation, thus the 140000-new-health-workers HCWs if: graduates of the revised curricula 1. would be considered “new”. The While MESAU was spot-on in for a new role that Masters and PhD fellowship designing a systems approach, her Thecontributes students to arebetter qualified health awardees can also be counted contribution to the 140,000 new as a primary function AND: towards “new” HCWs. HCWs still has to be reported. So, 2. The students have received in the meantime, it is back to the six months or more of Dykki Settle and Dana Singleton of counting frame (abacus): MESAU education AND: CapacityPlus acknowledged that is not through with the numbers a. The students would MEPI is unique and a different game! not have graduated approach might be needed.

“Will these students contribute to the 140,000 new HCWs?”

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MESAU PhD Fellows Selected and Embark on their Work (2011/2012-2013/2014)

By Elialilia S. Okello and Harriet Nambooze

On 12th August 2011, representatives from MESAU institutions met at Humura Resort Hotel in Kampala to interview the sixteen applicants who were short listed for the MESAU PhD fellowships. The panel consisted of Prof. Emilio Ovuga from Gulu University who chaired the meeting; other panelists included Prof. James Tumwine, Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, Dr. Achilles Katamba from MakCHS, Prof. Paul Waako representing Busitema University, Dr. Yuka Manabe representing Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Ben Oonge from Kampala International University, Dr. Sam Maling from Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Dr. Elialilia S.l Okello who is the PhD coordinator at MakCHS. Below are the profiles of the selected fellows and their proposed areas of study.

Dr. Odong Charles Okot Dr. Lydia Nakiyingi David Kitara Lagoro Lecturer, Department of Lecturer, Department of Senior Lecturer, Department of , Gulu University Medicine, School of Medicine, , Gulu University MakCHS Area of Study: Molecular, Area of Study: Investigations of the pharmacokinetic and Area of Study:Mycobacteremia link between Pyomyositis, HIV and pharmacodynamic studies to in HIV-infected patients malnutrition evaluate the effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment for falciparum malaria in pregnancy

Dr. Anthony Ocaya Lecturer, Department of , Gulu University Dr. Kenneth Opio Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Dr. Sarah Nakubulwa Area of Study: Buruli ulcer and School of Medicine, MakCHS Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics Mycobacterium ulcerans in and Gynaecology, School of selected villages of Adjumani Area of Study: Compare Medicine, MakCHS and Moyo Districts, West Nile, erythropoietin plus standard Uganda treatment or Standard treatment Area of Study: Herpes Simplex Virus plus placebo (sterile water type 2 in pregnancy for injection) for correction of compensated moderate to severe anemia among patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and esophageal varices

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MESAU PhD Fellows Selected Cont’d Learning from My Experience: Adapting proven Management Skills

Dr. Othman Kakaire Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics Mr. Ocan Moses and Gynaecology, School of Teaching Assistant, Department of Medicine, MakCHS Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Biomedical Sciences, MakCHS Area of Study: Contraception among persons living with HIV/AIDS Area of Focus: Impact of self medication on Ugandan healthcare system: a case study of drug use practices in rural communities

By Evelyn Bakengesa,

“It is essential that the project coordinator be able to function effectively with individuals and groups at varying levels of the organization”.

Eleanor Turyakira As a coordinator it has dawned on me Lecturer, Department of Community that I have no choice but to be dynamic; Health, Mbarara University of Science a potential necessary both for bringing and Technology together the individuals who constitute Mrs. Scovia Nalugo Mbalinda the core project team and for assuming Area of Study: Identification Assistant Lecturer, Department of leadership in the development and and testing of interventions that Nursing, School of Health Sciences, implementation of the strategic plan. improve health literacy, and partner MakCHS How do I manage? I would say it is a involvement in health care support skill that requires constant planning, for disease prevention and control Area of Focus: Utilization of assessment learning and patience. As a coordinator, information about rural HIV positive each day leads to various interpersonal young adult’s sexuality relations involving processing lots of information that enables me to devise strategies, make decisions, and implement.

Fred Ssembajjwe My Experience Assistant Lecturer, Department of These days I often prefer to consider , School of Biomedical Sciences, my self not an Administrative Assistant MakCHs but a communicator who has learnt to motivate others to build an efficient Area of Focus: Effect of the local diet team. Everyday am challenged to on the genome stability/instability of a manage my own time, objectives and rural population in Uganda that might resources in order to accomplish tasks be deemed either as a protective or as a and implement ideas on the Teaching predisposing/risk factor for carcinogenesis and Learning Committee (TLC) for high performance. However in all this, though the team can be set up, the hardest fact is not the team remaining 10 MESAU Newsletter

intact but that the core problem is wisely under varying circumstances Ms. Regina Namirembe joins the inability to comprehensively manage with different amounts of MESAU team as Administrator the full cycle of implementation. knowledge about the available To address this frustration, re-tooling alternatives and their consequences. the set organizational and project This empowering state has enabled priorities and continuous reviewing of me have greater commitment to my the objectives is a new gold standard work. A good decision is always that that I have had to learn reminding it involves all stakeholders given the me of the notion that, ‘learning is a varying circumstances. continuous process’. It is important that any coordinator be able to function Organizing effectively with individuals and groups at Am charged with organizing varying levels of the organization while the determined tasks to be keeping in mind the objectives in terms accomplished, subdividing major Ms. Regina Namirembe joins the of the changing demands. The more the tasks of TLC into individual activities,’ MESAU team as an Administrator with project services are opened out to the assigning specific activities vast experience in research and grant community and involve more staff and to individuals and providing administration. She has worked on several departments the greater is the need administrative support to those on NIH and USAID grants for over seven for consistent communication. The TLC and other college committee years. She has previously worked with a project coordinator and the core project in providing direction for achieving research institution which exposed her to research and writing competitive grants team can never stray from a strategy the planned results considering for meeting that need to provide applications. She also has experience in time, chain of command, and role teaching which has greatly contributed to information because it is the surest specification. the skills and knowledge that she has. She simple way of being accountable to all looks forward to working with the MESAU stakeholders. team as it achieves its aim of medical Time Management education for equitable service delivery to all Ugandans. What I do in my Typical Time management is the art of Week! arranging, organizing, scheduling, Ruth Nabaggala joins the MESAU and budgeting one’s time for team as M & E Officer Planning the purpose of generating more It is the process of defining effective work and productivity. in advance what should be Developing time management skills accomplished; when, by whom, is a journey that needs practice and and how, either for the short or other guidance along the way. It has long term. This planning aspect is been a goal to help myself become a major contributor to success and aware of how to use my time productivity. Stated simply, “If you as one resource in organizing, don’t know where you are going, prioritizing, and succeeding as an then you won’t know when you have administrative assistant. It is such arrived!” - Ziggy. an asset especially where you work under minimum supervision. Engaging in planning has taught Ruth Nabaggala has joined the MEPI Setting daily time bound tasks that me the art of thinking for the MESAU team as a Monitoring and future because I’m now able to are specific, measurable, attainable, Evaluation Officer. She brings in experience purposefully set organizational realistic and timely (SMART) has of monitoring and evaluating Health priorities and encourage creativity. helped me a great deal. project activities in relation to set expectations. She has a vast experience I plan activities that range from Maintaining a daily “To Do” list with meetings/trainings/workshops, in conducting monitoring and evaluation priorities attached and maintaining activities and organizing research Student timetables, Student a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly community rotations and other studies. Ruth has worked with HIV/AIDS diary is helpful. The challenge still PEPFAR Project and BLF funded projects Education related activities. remains at improving, learning for Maternal and child health aiming at Decision making and integrating the value of time strengthening the health service delivery management and how I can in Uganda. She previously worked with a I define decision making as more effectively get buy- in by Medical Bureau collaborating with PNFPs than making up my mind but Contact: to strengthen and improve the health service delivery in the health facilities of the rather Involves identifying and Evelyn Bakengesa, defining the problem, developing network and this gave her an opportunity Coordinator, Teaching and Learning of understanding the challenges faced various alternatives, weighing those Committee by the health sector in Uganda. Ruth is alternatives, selecting the best College of Health Sciences interested in working with the MESAU team alternatives and implementing the Makerere University aiming at improving the medical education alternative with the highest value. Email: [email protected] in Uganda for equitable service delivery. Therefore decisions need to be made 11 MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR EQUITABLE SERVICES TO ALL UGANDANS (MESAU) A MEDICAL MEDICAL EDUCATIONEDUCATION FOR EQUITABLEPARTNERESHIP SERVICES TO ALLINITIATIVE UGANDANS (MESAU)(MEPI) A MEDICAL EDUCATION PARTNERESHIP INITIATIVE (MEPI)

CALL FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ RESEARCH PROPOSALS

MESAU-MEPI a Consortium composed of Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Gulu University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Kampala International University, Busitema University and Johns Hopkins University will support 60 competitive research proposals to undergraduate students within the MESAU-MEPI Consortium from 15th March 2012. The awards will be based on the following criteria: 1. Proposals should be within your institutional research agenda 2. Multidisciplinary proposals are highly recommended 3. Preference will be given to applications that demonstrate a mix of junior and senior undergraduate students for mentorship 4. The proposed study must be significant, innovative, feasible, outline the approach, have a strong community component and be among the community priority research areas 5. Be among the best proposals developed after the course on proposal development 6. The study should fit within the proposed budget and should be of sound ethical and scientific standards. 7. The Principal Investigator (PI) must be bonafide undergraduate student of a MESAU-MEPI consortium institution. 8. The proposal should have two faculty members who will act as support investigators and mentors. One of the faculty identified should be indicated as the primary responsible faculty. 9. Applications must be recommended by a Dean of the Principle Investigator’s institution.

Applicants must provide 1-2 page CV of each student and faculty investigator and with no more than five (recent) publications. The lead applicant must also provide a Letter of Good Standing from the Dean or Head of Department. The funds will be managed by the student PI and the primary responsible faculty.

Proposal structure The proposal should not exceed 12 pages excluding references and the budget. The proposal should include: 1. Title and affiliation page – 1 page. This page will have the project title (not exceeding 20 words); Names of the applicant(s), course pursued, year of study and their affiliation(s); e-mail address and telephone (mobile) numbers. It should also indicate primary responsible faculty member and the second responsible faculty member. 2. Abstract of the research proposal not more than 300 words (on a separate page) – structured as Aim, problem, methods, and likely impact 3. The main body of the proposal outlined as: introduction/background; problem statement; rationale; significance; objectives; methods; analysis plan; ethical considerations; timeline; budget with budget justification; and recent relevant references. Please note that the funds are for a period of 12 months from the time of award. This time period must be taken into consideration while designing your study.

It is important to note that, publication(s) will be the main deliverable of this grant. By the time of submitting a report of your project not later than 3 months after completion of the project (i.e. by month 15 after the award), there must be evidence that you have developed and/or submitted a manuscript or manuscripts to peer reviewed journal.

The maximum funds to be awarded to any proposal is $3000. Proposals to be submitted to the PI MESAU-MEPI by e-mail either as MS word or pdf document by 29th February 2012 at 5pm to [email protected]/[email protected]. Additional information can be obtained from Ms Harriet Nambooze [email protected] and Ms. Regina Namirembe [email protected]

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