On Thursday 30th May 2019, the relationship between Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) and San Diego State University (SDSU) was cemented further as the School received air quality monitoring equipment from the foreign university.
The handover happened as representatives from the two universities shared and exchanged ideas in an “Environmental Health Introduction” meeting which took place at the premises of MakSPH in Mulago-Uganda. The meeting was attended by Faculty and Research Associates of MakSPH who were led by Mr. Ali Halage, the Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Environmental Health Sciences (BEHS) at MakSPH. On the other hand, the SDSU team was led by Prof. Stephanie Brodine who was accompanied by two SDSU Global Health students.
The MakSPH team was pleased to receive air quality monitoring equipment from SDSU and the SDSU students demonstrated to the MakSPH team how to calibrate and use the equipment. Among the equipment received were the real-time, portable air quality monitors in different brands like DRXs, HOBOs and Air Quality Eggs. It is hoped that this equipment will support MakSPH in further research and projects surrounding air quality in Uganda. As part of the collaboration, meeting participants also discussed opportunities for possible collaborative research in Environmental Health and how to ensure continuity of the learning from the field attachment exchange program.
The following day, Doreen Tuhebwe, one of the representatives of the MakSPH Team held a Field Attachment Orientation meeting for the two SDSU students. She took the students through the Masters of Public Health (MPH) field attachment manual. She also gave them pointers on how to work alongside Ugandan MPH students and how to integrate in the Mbale District Health Team. SDSU students will spend 8 weeks fulfilling their field attachment with the MakSPH-MPH students attached to the Mbale District Health Office.
MakSPH and SDSU are working on a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their collaboration that has been going on for the last three years, further. Below are some photos from the engagements.
