Uganda’s Minister of State for Primary Education, Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, also the Woman Member of Parliament for Moyo District, has called for cemented partnerships to combat climate change and increase environmental resilience.
The Minister made the call at the 19th Conference of the Makerere University Environmental Health Students Association (MUEHSA), commemorated each year, this time under the theme: Building resilience in a changing world; the role of environmental health in addressing climate change and antimicrobial resistance.
Held on 9th April 2024, at the new Makerere School of Public Health (MakSPH) Auditorium building near Eastern gate at Makerere University main campus, the conference brought together several academics, researchers, scientists, public health practitioners, the private sector, development partners, students and Government representatives in forging solutions to promote climate change resilience in Uganda.
Participants included students and and faculty from MakSPH, representatives from Uganda’s Ministry of Health, Nottingham Trent University, Uganda Institute of Allied and Management Sciences, Mbale School of Hygiene, Allied Health and Professionals Council, Cavendish University, Durban University of Technology and Federation of Environmental Health Students Union.
Hon. Moriku Kaducu, who officiated the students organized event as the Chief Guest, noted with concern, the current impacts of climate change including rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, frequent extreme weather events, and rising sea levels, threatening human health, food security, livelihoods and development.
“I thank the organizers, MUEHSA, for creating this platform to advance cross-disciplinary dialogue and exchange knowledge and technologies that can strengthen environmental health as a strategic approach in tackling these interconnected threats. This year’s theme couldn’t be timelier.” Hon. Kaducu noted.
The Minister said the twin dangers of climate change and anti-microbial resistance continues to hinder efforts to realize Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the Global Agenda 2030, with serious implications for public health, food and nutrition security, economic growth and national security.
Government reports show that Uganda has had a one percent average rise in temperature in 50 years, projected to even expand further to three percent by 2050. Unmitigated, this could reverse Uganda’s gains in eradicating poverty and extreme hunger, hence, the Minister’s call for cemented partnerships to combat the risks.
Reechoing the Minister, Prof. Elizeus Rutembemberwa, the MakSPH Deputy Dean, called for building mechanisms to prevent adverse climatic changes, and where this is not possible, capacities to cope with and recover from the shocks must be emphasized.
“I'm standing here for the Dean, Prof. Rhoda Wanyeze, who has not been able to come. As you all know, she is very passionate about environmental health and the activities you do,” Prof. Rutembemberwa noted, stating that: “Resilience is the ability to cope with and recover from setbacks. It comes when we have suffered setbacks, but the better alternative should have been to prevent the setbacks themselves.”
He said as nature has it sometimes, the setbacks come and we have to build that resilience as a second-best alternative. “As we have heard, these are some of the things we have, which we need both to be resilient to but also reverse. If we don't reverse them, then they get worse and when they get worse, it becomes even harder to reverse them,” he added.
Hon. Moriku Kaducu said to build resilience, the Government of Uganda is currently mainstreaming climate change and environmental sustainability in sectoral policies, plans, and budgets across all ministries, departments and agencies. She also revealed that the Education Ministry is reviewing Primary Education curriculum to update and integrate current issues of environmental and climate change resilience.
“We need to ensure that we do not get worse and prevention is not all gone, so we need to do what we do best and that's prevention,” Prof. Rutembemberwa emphasized.
He also warned that nations fail because they have not built the man-made political and economic institutions for survival: “Survival is man-made. If you don't put efforts to do work, you fail. So, the natural trend is to disappear, unless if you keep working. We need to put our brains together and work to make sure we can survive. Our survival will depend on political and economic institutions we build.”
The Makerere University Environmental Health Students Association was established in 2003 by Environmental Health Science students at Makerere University School of Public Health, to promote and advocate for environmental health in Uganda. For 21 years, the students have influenced policy, training, and practice.
The conference was also a platform for handover of tools by the outgoing MUEHSA leadership.
The MUEHSA Outgoing Executive
Chairperson- Mukwana Erico
Vice Chairperson- Nnamono Ingrid Aidah
Speaker- Jabim Philliam
Deputy Speaker- Kiiza Dickson
General Secretary- Arinaitwe Bridget
Academic Secretary- Buol Angeth Pamella
Publicity Secretary- Ssebandeke Ivan
Organising Secretary- Tumusiime Veldrine Benard
Finance Secretary- Nakuya Evelyn
The MUEHSA incoming Executive
Chairperson- Agumenawe Nichodemus
Vice Chairperson- Ahumuza Bridget
Speaker- Kiiza Dickson
Deputy Speaker- Mutuwa Racheal Cynthia
General Secretary- Shimiyu Francis
Academic Secretary- Turinawe Pius
Publicity Secretary- Tumushime Daniel
Organising Secretary- Nseko Joshua
Finance Secretary- Agaba Francis
By John Okeya
