Makerere University Environmental Health Students’ Association (MUEHSA) was established in 2003 by Environmental Health Science students at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Kampala, Uganda. The aim of MUEHSA is to promote the interests of environmental health science students, practitioners, and other stakeholders in Uganda and other parts of the world. MUEHSA carries out various activities including: supporting continuing professional development through annual conferences, seminars and public exhibitions; carrying out environmental health advocacy at local and international levels including commemorating World Environmental Health Day annually; involvement in nationwide health activities such as outbreak investigation and control; and supporting local communities through outreach programmes including health promotion. MUEHSA has been at the forefront of promoting and advocating for environmental health in Uganda in recent years which has greatly influenced training, policy and practice in the country.
MUEHSA in its 16th year of existence collaborated with Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) and Ministry of Health (Uganda) in organizing the 3rd IFEH Academic and 16th MUEHSA Scientific Conference held from 9th to 11th April 2019 at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda. The 3-day conference brought together practitioners, academics, researchers, funders, policy makers, implementers, students, media and other stakeholders from around the world. This diverse range of professionals/delegates working or having interest in environmental health deliberated on environmental and health solutions relevant for attainment of the SDGs.
MUEHSA joins the world every year on 26th September to commemorate the World Environmental Health day. Last year, the theme for the celebration was: “Climate Change Challenges, Time for Global Environmental Health to Act in Unison" and a sub theme “Environmental Protection”. To commemorate the day, MUEHSA members reached out to St. Martin primary school, Mulago and participated in activities such as tree planting in the school compound, mobilizing pupils to carryout a cleanup exercise and general cleaning within the school and sensitized the pupils to create awareness on environmental protection.
MUEHSA also participates in the general cleaning activities in needy communities as an act to give back to them. The cleaning exercises involve mobilization of residents to take part in the cleaning and sensitization on proper methods of handling/ managing wastes in their communities. In regard to this, MUEHSA members last year (2019) partnered with the alumni of the Common wealth scholarship to give back to the community of Nakulabye in a cleaning exercise. The major aim of the cleaning exercises done by students is to empower communities to take up general cleaning as one way of addressing the problem of accumulation and indiscriminate disposal of wastes which pose a health hazard in their communities. In addition, in 2019, MUEHSA members took the initiative to organise and participate in the cleaning exercises of three markets i.e. Nakawa, Kamwokya and Mulago. These exercises were eye openers to the market vendors who pledged to improve the hygiene and sanitation of the markets.
MUEHSA participates in extra co curricular activities as well. The activities include: Fun time; done every semester to give an opportunity to students to relax from class and network with the alumni. The College sports gala is annual event and MUEHSA always presents the football and volley ball teams to participate. MUEHSA members also participate in the Makerere university endowment fund run (MakRun) whenever it is organized by the university. This event calls for students, faculty and well wishers to run for fun and do physical exercises.
Every semester, MUEHSA students gather for a general assembly to discuss issues concerning their welfare, how to run the association and plan for the scientific conference. This year the MUEHSA conference will be held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, Uganda on the theme “The role of Multisectoral Collaboration in Achieving Environmental Health”.
MUEHSA members attending the general assembly in semester one, 2019/2020
For Health, Prevention is Our Priority