Volume 2 Issue 3 July 2019 has also developed and implemented respiratory medicine training programs for primary health care providers and Dr. Bruce J Kirenga initiated super specialized skills training programs.

In line with our mission, we opened a translational chest clinic Dear Readers, which offers clinical services found in very few centres in Africa such as a sleep disorders clinic and lab, pulmonary MLI organised a two-day event during which we held the 1st function testing, allergy testing and pulmonary rehabilitation International Lung Science Symposium and the institute’s among others. inauguration ceremony. As we celebrate this milestone, we look Moving forward, MLI will harness opportunities that exist back at some of MLIs achievements in addressing the problem while creating others, advocate for the inclusion of lung health of the lung diseases epidemic in such as preforming medicines in the essential medicines kits and expand its pioneer studies on air pollution (including indoor air pollution) collaboration base. and participating in national lung disease surveys such as the National asthma survey, National tuberculosis survey, chronic I wish you an enjoyable read obstructive pulmonary disease surveys, among others. MLI Science for healthy lungs as we build for the future

Makerere University Lung Institute Inauguration Story on page 2 held its inauguration ceremony on the 30th April 2109. The institute however has been in existence for four years. MLI was the brainchild of its current director, Dr. Bruce Kirenga, who worked alongside fellow lung health professionals in and abroad to start an institute that would bring more attention to chronic lung diseases. Thus, there was plenty of reason to celebrate at MLI’s inauguration ceremony that was preceded by a two-day international lung science symposium. In this issue, we being you highlights form the occasion that was graced by the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.

Physical activity is crucial in addressing the CELEBRATORY MOOD: From left to right, Prof Thys van der Molen, Dr. Federik van Gemert, Dr. Bruce Kirenga, Prof. William Bazeyo, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Dr. Rupert Jones, Dr. Doreen Birabwa-Male and Dr. Stavia Turyahabwe non-communicable disease burden which cutting cake at the Institute Launch, Deans Gardens, MakCHS include chronic lung diseases. The Ministry of Health organised the national day of physical activity and MLI joined other stakeholders to commemorate this day.

This quarterly newsletter is available on MLI’s website: mli.mak.ac.ug. For any comments or questions please reach out to the editorial team.

Editorial team

Dr. Jasper Nidoi Health Economist STREAM trial [email protected]

Denis Muwonge Inside this issue Data manager GECO project • MLI inauguration • Interview with • MLI [email protected] ceremony and first with PhD Fogarty commemorates international lung Fellow, Adaeze National Day of Dr. Simon Walusimbi Co-investigator science symposium Wosu Physical Activity Exit-TB [email protected]

Makerere University Lung Institute Newsletter July 2019

Makerere University Lung Institute’s Inauguration Ceremony

n an event officiated by the Minister I of Health, Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Makerere University Lung Institute (MLI) held a series of activities to commemorate its inauguration. The ceremony was held on Tuesday 30th April 2019, in the Dean’s Gardens at the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University. The minister appreciated the management of the Makerere University and MLI’s international partners for bearing the vision to build the Makerere University Lung Institute, the second institute of its kind in Africa. She also noted that MLI is ‘poised to carry out research, innovations and capacity building of Ugandan doctors to manage pulmonary diseases.’

In his keynote address, Prof. Thys van der Molen, a member of MLI’s Board of MLI TOUR: Prof. William Bazeyo -Deputy Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng - Minister of Directors, noted that in comparison to Health, Uganda and Dr. Bruce Kirenga cutting the ribbon at the entrance of the MLI premises as Prof Thys van der Molen, the number of deaths from HIV, asthma Dr. Stavia Turyahabwe, Dr. Doreen Birabwa-Male, Dr. Rebecca Nantanda and Dr. Sabrina Kitaka look on. deaths per week more than double HIV deaths and the deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are about five times HIV deaths. Asthma and COPD account for more deaths than HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis combined. This highlights the growing burden of non-communicable lung diseases in Uganda and the need to develop effective strategies to ameliorate suffering and death from these diseases.

Prof. William Bazeyo, the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, applauded the College of Health Sciences for setting up the Lung Institute and noted that this would have a positive impact on the research output of the university which currently ranks second in Africa. MLI TOUR: Dr. Bruce Kirenga -Director, MLI taking Prof. William Bazeyo and Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng - Minister of Following the speeches, the guests were Health, Uganda on a tour of the MLI premises invited to take a tour of the MLI clinic as some of the available tests were The first panel discussion was held premises. This included a tour of the MLI underutilised. under the theme ‘Uganda’s health clinic, showcasing the pulmonary system’s readiness to provide universal function testing unit which offers The inauguration ceremony was lung health coverage.’ Dr. Diana Atwine, services such as spirometry, the sleep preceded by the 1st International Lung the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry disorders clinic and lab and the newly Science Symposium during which of Health was among the panellists and constructed pulmonary rehabilitation scientists presented key research findings she encouraged researchers to present unit. In his address, Dr. Bruce Kirenga, on lung health topic. Two high level research findings to the MoH and MLI’s director, noted the need to increase panel discussions were held which development partners as early as awareness of the services offered at the included researchers and policy makers.

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Makerere University Lung Institute Newsletter July 2019

SPEECHES: The Chairperson, Symposium and Launch Committee - Dr. Ivan Kimuli addressing guests during the Institute launch

AIR QUALITY PRESS CONFERENCE DURING SYMPOSIUM: Dr. Bruce Kirenga, Dr. Lynn Atuyambe (MakSPH) , Dr. Lisa Mills (CDC), Eng Andrew Kitaka (KCCA), Dr. Tom Okorut (NEMA)

(TOP) PULMONARY REHABILITATION UNIT: Dr. Bruce Kirenga interacts with guests during a tour of the pulmonary rehabilitation block

(LEFT ) MLI CLINIC TOUR: Dr. Jaliah Nanyonga and Sr. Susan Aketch take Prof. William Bazeyo and Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng on a tour of the MLI clinic facilities

NETWORKING: Guests interacting during the Institute launch in the Deans Gardens, IST INTERNATIONAL LUNG SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM: Participants attending a one of the MakCHS symposium session in the Davis Lecture Theatre, MakCHS

possible to facilitate early lobbying of highlighted the work KCCA was doing pollution on several body systems such funds for implementing evidence-based to monitor air quality within the city and as the lung and heart. Dr. Waiswa from strategies. also presented plans by KCCA to NEMA noted the need for political will

The second panel discussion under the improve air quality by enhancing public and multisectoral collaboration to theme ‘breathe clean air for a healthy transport, establishing pedestrian areas, harness the opportunities and address future’ drew panellists from the US setting up a centralised traffic control the challenges faced in reducing air embassy, NEMA, KCCA including its unit and upgrading city roads to reduce pollution. traffic congestion. Dr. Bruce also executive director Eng. Andrew Kitaka By Dr. Jasper Nidoi and researchers from MLI. Eng. Kitaka highlighted the multifaceted effects of air

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Makerere University Lung Institute Newsletter July 2019 An Interview with Fogarty Fellow, Adaeze Wosu Adaeze Wosu is a fourth year PhD candidate in the Department of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public health. She is currently based at MLI where she is completing a fellowship as part of the Fogarty International Center’s Global Health Fellows Program, and working on her dissertation research, which examines the links between air pollution and early childhood development.

What has been the most challenging through how I could answer the here in Uganda has exponentially aspect of your PhD journey? questions of interest. increased my appreciation of context. In I’m not sure that I can pick out one thing. my work, I have been amazed at the Many aspects of the PhD have been How did you get connected with MLI? unique ethical, administrative, and challenging, but the most challenging I got connected through the Johns logistical considerations that come with aspects have been the most exciting and Hopkins Center for Global Non- research in Uganda. On a personal level, rewarding too. I have learned a lot from communicable Diseases Research and my beliefs, assumptions and the ups and downs that come with the Training. After speaking with understanding of the world are entire process—applying for funding, researchers there about my emerging challenged daily, and my knowledge determining what’s feasible, and interest in air pollution in Uganda, I was undergoes continuous expansion. There working out the analytical, logistical, connected to Dr. Bruce Kirenga. During a is so much to gain from daily interactions ethical and administrative aspects of visit to in 2017, I discussed my with people and places that you don’t get studies. Challenging, but extremely research ideas with him. He liked them from just reading the literature. I have fulfilling. and was willing to collaborate and benefitted from being in an environment provide mentorship to me. like MLI by having great mentorship and How did you narrow down on a colleagues. I enjoy the diversity of research topic, from broad to narrow? What impact do you hope to have in research topics at the Institute (air There was a bit of serendipity! I’ve had a your research field? pollution, TB, asthma, COPD, clinical longstanding interest in environmental I hope that this work draws more trials, microbiome, genomics) and the and social determinants of health. attention to the massive problems of frequent opportunities to learn and During my early visits to Kampala, I was indoor and outdoor air pollution that we exchange ideas—from the weekly journal struck by the high levels of air pollution. have in Uganda, and the African clubs, field activities, monthly Day of I began talking with people and reading continent more generally. I would like Lung Science, and involvement in study more about this problem and then I my work to call attention to air design, statistical analysis and honed in on gaps in literature. pollution’s impact across the life course, interpretation of study findings. from early childhood to late adulthood, Did you come up with your own and to accelerate efforts towards What’s our favorite thing about MLI? research topic? population-level interventions. It’s difficult to pick just one thing. But Yes, I came up with my own research top of the list is the environment, and the topic based on my experiences, academic What is your experience as a PhD people here at MLI. Mentors and and professional interests, and review of student doing research at MLI and colleagues are very supportive. I also journal articles and reports. I received Uganda more broadly? enjoy the science, collegiality and feedback and guidance from my Being in Uganda and working at MLI has liveliness at MLI, and how opposing academic advisors, dissertation been exciting. Before living in Uganda, I views are discussed in a respectful committee, faculty, mentors, and knew the importance of understanding manner. colleagues throughout the process. This the context in which people live, and helped me refine my ideas and think where research is conducted. But being National Day of Physical Activity Commemoration 10km walk with HE Yoweri Kaguta LI joined the nation in Museveni as the chief walker. M celebrating the second national day of physical activity (NDPA) which is In the directors speech, Dr. Bruce commemorated annually in the second Kirenga alluded to the fact that there is a week of July. heavy disease burden of asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) This years NDPA was celebrated on the and lung cancer in Uganda and physical 14th July at Kololo Independence activity should be embraced for grounds under the theme was ’My preventing chronic respiratory diseases health, my responsibility’ with the goal and treating these conditions through of raising awareness on the role of pulmonary rehabilitation. He also NDPA: Dr. John Omagino (Executive Director, Uganda Heart physical activity in curbing the non- Institute), Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng (Minister of Health), Dr. encouraged people to make physical Orem Jackson (Executive Director, Uganda Cancer Institute) communicable disease epidemic. activity part of their daily routine. and Dr. Bruce Kirenga during this years NDPA Activities of the day included aerobics, Sukuma dance, Zumba, games and a By Dr. Ivan Kimuli

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