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School of Public Health
College of Health Sciences, Makerere University

Nottingham Trent University – Makerere University partnership celebrates over 10 years of collaboration

Posted on : Sunday, December 25, 2022

Cake cutting : NTU@10

This year, the Nottingham Trent University – Makerere University partnership celebrated over 10 years of collaboration in research, bi-directional learning, knowledge exchange, and community service. The partnership between the UK based Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and Uganda based Makerere University (Mak) won its first grant of 5,000 Pounds from the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) in 2012.

This led to the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the School of Social Sciences and Makerere University School of Public Health. Ten years later, the MOU has been extended to cover all university colleges and schools within the two universities.

The partnership has won over 15 grants, including a recent one worth €716,004 from the British Council / European Union under the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) programme for mobility of over 140 students and staff between the two institutions (2020 – 2023). This grant has so far facilitated 70 undergraduate, masters and PhD students as well as faculty from both institutions to have exchange visits between the two universities. Furthermore, over 20 international conference presentations have been delivered by the partnership in the recent years.

The partnership, whose main focus has been on strengthening community health, has created social impact among communities in Wakiso district with over 750 Community Health Workers (CHWs) and 200 human and animal health practitioners trained on several topics including non - communicable diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, as well as pandemic and epidemic preparedness and response.

The NTU-Mak partnership leads Prof. Linda Gibson and Dr. David Musoke sharing the history and achievements of the collaboration at the dinner.
The NTU-Mak partnership leads Prof. Linda Gibson and Dr. David Musoke sharing the history and achievements of the collaboration at the dinner.

 

A dinner was organized at Golf Course hotel, Kampala to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the partnership. The visiting NTU delegation comprised of Dr. Mazeda Hossain (the Director of the NTU Eastern Africa Centre), Prof. Linda Gibson (the NTU partnership lead), Ms. Sally Squires-Bashford (a PhD student at NTU) and Mr. Jonathan Conway (the Coordinator of the NTU Eastern Africa Centre). At the dinner, some beneficiaries shared their stories of how the partnership has supported them. These included Mr. Henry Bugembe, the coordinator for CHWs in Wakiso district, Ms. Suzan Nakalawa, an undergraduate Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility programme beneficiary (2022), Ms. Grace Biyinzika Lubega, who received a scholarship to study an MA Public Health at NTU, Dr. Arthur Bagonza, a PhD Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility programme beneficiary (2020), Ms. Sally Squires-Bashford, a PhD student at NTU, and Dr. Rawlance Ndejjo who was nurtured by the partnership during the early years of his career.

 

The Dean MakSPH, Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze commended the partnership leads Dr. Musoke and Prof. Gibson for the great partnership work done. She congratulated them for the impact they have made for not only students and staff, but also the communities. In her closing remarks, she encouraged the early career researchers (ECRs) present at the event to allow the partnership leads to continue mentoring them, and further challenged these ECRs to mentor undergraduate students so as to inspire the next generation of public health professionals.

Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean MakSPH, giving her remarks at the dinner.
Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean MakSPH, giving her remarks at the dinner.
MakSPH Dean, Heads of departments, the NTU delegation and other partnership beneficiaries pose for a photo at the dinner.
MakSPH Dean, Heads of departments, the NTU delegation and other partnership beneficiaries pose for a photo at the dinner.

 

Ms. Grace Biyinzika Lubega sharing her experiences during her masters studies at NTU.
Ms. Grace Biyinzika Lubega sharing her experiences during her masters studies at NTU.

 

Mr. Henry Bugembe the CHW Coordinator sharing his experiences with the partnership since 2012.
Mr. Henry Bugembe the CHW Coordinator sharing his experiences with the partnership since 2012.

The NTU delegation also visited the partnership field office in Nakawuka, and a skilling centre in Kajjansi, Wakiso District which was founded by Mariam Nakirijja, a CHW following her visit to NTU in 2019 where she presented at the Oxford International Health Conference.

While at the skilling centre, the delegation was amazed with the hands-on skills training activities being conducted such as tailoring and hair dressing supported by Mariam.

Similarly, while at the field office, some of the CHWs expressed their appreciation to the partnership for all the support offered to them for many years. 

Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze handing over a souvenir to Dr. Mazeda Hossain, the Director of the NTU Eastern Africa Centre.
Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze handing over a souvenir to Dr. Mazeda Hossain, the Director of the NTU Eastern Africa Centre.
MakSPH Dean, Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze (middle) with the NTU-Mak delegation at Makerere University School of Public Health.
MakSPH Dean, Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze (middle) with the NTU-Mak delegation at Makerere University School of Public Health.

 

The NTU-Mak delegation posing with some of the community health workers at the field office in Nakawuka, Wakiso district.
The NTU-Mak delegation posing with some of the community health workers at the field office in Nakawuka, Wakiso district.

While reflecting on the 10-year journey, Dr. Musoke and Prof. Gibson noted that achievements gained have been a result of perseverance, commitment and teamwork. They expressed their appreciation to the funders and partners who have supported the partnership work, the Dean, Heads of Departments and staff at MakSPH and NTU, community health workers, early career researchers, Wakiso District Local Government, and the Ministry of Health.

Congratulations @NTU-MaK!!

 

By Grace Biyinzika Lubega, Filimin Niyongabo, and Suzan Nakalawa

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