ACHEST’s expertise in global health continues to be recognized as Prof. Francis Omaswa appointed to serve on a 15 member international, independent, multi-stakeholder expert commission that will conduct a study and prepare a report to recommend an effective global architecture for recognizing and mitigating the threat of epidemic infectious diseases.

The commission will receive input from four Institute of Medicine workshops that will be coordinated on: governance for global health, financing response to pandemic threats, resilient health systems (Francis Omaswa Co-chair), research and development of medical products.

The report of this Commission will be presented to the January 2016 WHO Executive Board and to the World Health Assembly in May 2016.

ACHEST Executive Director, Prof. Francis Omaswa represented ACHEST at the 68th WHA in Geneva where he contributed to the discussions on the WHO Code on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.
 ACHEST also provided support to the Uganda and other African delegations on a number of agenda items such as Essential Surgical Care, Ebola, Integrated Health Systems for HRH and Adolescent and Reproductive Health.

The assembly, held in May 2015, also presented an opportunity to network and coordinate with stakeholders on HRH initiatives in Africa on behalf of the African Platform on HRH.

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ACHEST executive director, Prof. Francis Omaswa, has been appointed to co-chair the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) that will provide policy and strategy advice to the Regional Director of the WHO African Region.

Prof. Omaswa was appointed by the new WHO African Region Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti. The IAG, consists of 16 renowned global health leaders representing all regions of the world and with diverse experience.

The IAG met for the first time in Johannesburg, South Africa, 4 – 5 May 2015 and provided advice on Dr. Moeti’s proposed ambitious and promising Transformation Agenda for the WHO African Region.

 Patrick Kadama Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde Peter Eriki Ben Omollo Francis Omaswa Vincent Ojoome John Oguntomiladde and Cheryl Nesbit

The good book in Proverbs 22:6 says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
This speaks to setting a proper and solid foundation, not only for children but for anything, even an organization, which intends to be around for the long haul and impact people and society.

Since ACHEST’s mission is to ensure equitable health for Africa, its foundations have to be firm and constantly reinforced in order to match any changes and improve its competitiveness in the world.

In a bid to improve its performance and operations, ACHEST underwent a Health Resources and Systems Administration (HRSA)-led baseline assessment in 2013 called CIASS (Clinical Assessment of Systems Strengthening).

CIASS is a tool that is used to evaluate the strength of an organization’s financial, governance and administrative systems.
The purpose of this evaluation is to identify any loopholes and advise the organization on how to improve but also to point out the strong points and encourage the organization to become even stronger.

A team that comprised of HRSA’s John Oguntomiladde and Cheryl Nesbit as well as Ben Omollo an independent consultant, visited ACHEST for a 3-day post-2013 assessment.
Oguntomiladde, the team-lead said, “CIASS is not a grading system but an assessment. In the areas of financial management, governance and administration, ACHEST has improved and we can confidently say that your systems are functioning well.”

Prof. Francis Omaswa, the ACHEST CEO thanked HRSA and the team for this partnership that has resulted in strengthened systems. The assessment involved all ACHEST staff members.

Prof Omaswa giving a speech at the new-year staff party

Good food, games and a promise of a better 2015 were the highlights of the ACHEST (African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation) beginning of year party. The party was held at the company offices in Kololo on Friday January 16, 2015.

Prof. Francis Omaswa, the executive director, who likened ACHEST to a child, reminded all the staff members present that ACHEST has survived all major milestones and is now a healthy strong company that can do major exploits in bringing about equitable health for Ugandans and Africans.

“We survived the first 28 days, neo-natal mortality, our first birthday and all sorts of killer
Prof Francis Omaswa cutting the cake with Dr Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde left and Harriet Malinga rightdiseases and we are now beyond our 5th birthday. So, in medical terms we are a healthy child.”

He congratulated staff members for the good work done in 2014 and mentioned some of the major achievements of the year such as: launching the book – African health leaders: Making Change and Claiming the future – at the UN General Assembly, UK House of Lords, Cape town and Kampala.

Prof. Omaswa also encouraged staff to strike a good balance between work and family adding, “People at home should not complain that you work too much or too little.” The party, which ended in the early hours of the evening, had all staff and support staff members in attendance. 

Uganda has had at least five outbreaks of Ebola since 2000 - most recently in 2012 and was able to contain the outbreaks.

Dr. Francis Omaswa, the Executive Director at the African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation says there is much to be learned from the way Uganda handled all the Ebola outbreaks. Talking during a panel discussion at the ASPEN institute in New York, U.S Prof. Omaswa shared some lessons Uganda learnt during the different Ebola outbreaks.

“You first need to win the trust of the population. Lesson number 2, controlling the epidemic will be done by the communities themselves [by] being able to identify those who are suspected to have the disease and to refer them to centers for tests, isolation and treatment," said Omaswa.

Another Ugandan, Margaret Mungherera, the President of World Medical Association says while the international community has done a lot to help, African leaders need to be the face of the epidemic.

“Decisions are being made outside the countries concerned. They are not allowing them to take the decisions that need to be done so in terms of building the leadership and developing the leadership, strengthening the leadership, there’s a lot that needs to be done," said Mungherera.

To listen to this interview, click the link below:

http://www.voanews.com/content/physicians-call-on-africa-leaders-to-step-up-fight-agianst-ebola/2494495.html

Lord Nigel Crisp Prof.Francis Omaswa Hon. Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda Hon. Cryspus Kiyonga & Hon. Elioda TumuwesigeA week after he took over office, the Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, has promised to aggressively reduce maternal mortality in the country as a top priority during his tenure as Leader of Government Business.
“I want to see health conditions of the people of Uganda improve, especially those of mothers and children. They are dying because of performing their natural duties. I have no doubt that we have no choice but to take this matter seriously,” he said.
Speaking at the launch of a book, “African Health Leaders: Making Change and Claiming the future, at Sheraton Hotel Kampala, Rugunda said the linkage between societal governance and health promotion that is underscored in the book, will be the guiding principle in his quest to improve the health conditions in the country during his tenure.

   Lord Nigel Crisp Prof. Francis Omaswa Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda Susan Edjang Prof. Miriam Were and Hon. Okello Oryem

Prof. Francis Omaswa talks with Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda during the book launch in New YorkA book that seeks to redefine the way in which Africa is viewed by Africans themselves and the rest of the world has been launched in New York. The book titled, African Health Leaders: Making Change and Claiming the future” is edited by Prof. Francis Omaswa and Lord Nigel Crisp with contributions from 23 other African leaders in health. This was the first of many launches, with the Ugandan launch due to take place on October 10.

In a joint statement, Hon Sam Kuteesa the UN General Assembly President and Dr Ruhakana Rugunda the Prime Minister of Uganda, said the new book is a timely and welcome addition to the work and theme of the current session of the UN General Assembly on the Post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals.

“I am pleased to participate at the launch ceremony for this newly published book on “African Leaders; making change and claiming the future” said Dr Rugunda, who read the joint speech during the book launch.

“It is our hope that this book will be essential reading for all those engaged in this dialogue and that some of the authors of the book will be tapped for their valuable experience. It is also our hope that Africans and their international development partners will benefit from reading and digesting the content of the book and use it as a catalyst for the continuing dialogue on the critical issues facing African as well as global health,” Dr. Rugunda said as he launched the book.

As the leadership of the World Medical Association and the African Platform on Human Resources for Health, we wish to convey to all our comrades - the valiant Health Workers - in the countries affected by the current Ebola outbreak namely: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

 We are deeply saddened to learn of the regrettable attacks and killings of Health Workers in some of the countries. In the middle of all the challenges that you face as front line health workers, we urge you to remain steadfast in your noble call to save the lives of your fellow citizens. The untoward actions against health professional in some of the countries are largely due to lack of proper knowledge and correct information among our people.

Prof. Omaswa handing over the sh23m cheque to OdweIn order to contribute to the reduction of  maternal and childhood mortality in Uganda, the partnership on maternal newborn child health (MNCH) based in the World Health Organization has made funding worth Ugsh23m available to civil society organizations through ACHEST. The money is intended to support member CSOs as they advocate more budget allocations towards reduction of maternal and newborn deaths in the country.

The ACHEST executive director, Prof. Francis Omaswa handed over the sh23m cheque to Denis Odwe the coalition representative.
 Handing over the cheque, Prof. Omaswa, cautioned against mismanagement of the funds. He said: “Africans have a high family dependency burden so we are tempted to divert such funds for personal needs. Be careful because this often leads to non-performance.”

Participants in one of the plenariesThe African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation, (ACHEST) successfully led the just-concluded Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) symposium. The symposium, under the theme: “Optimizing Impact in MEPI by Catalyzing Change and Building Sustainability” took place from August 5-7, 2014 in Maputo, Mozambique.

ACHEST, which is the African co-ordinating center for the USG-funded program oversaw the organization of the meeting that had over 200 participants converge at the Joaquim Chissano conference center.

The participants, most of whom were doctors from the 13 MEPI universities, discussed the impact of MEPI on students and faculty, shared experiences and sought innovative methods to improve health care across the continent.
 

Dead bodies, known as cadavers in medical literature, are used by students to study the anatomy of a human body.

Gulu University vice-chancellor Prof. Nyeko Pen-Mogi said the cadavers are treated and kept for purposes of training of first-year and second-year students of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Dentistry and Nursing in anatomy.

According to Nyeko and veteran medical trainer Prof. Francis Omaswa, a body should ideally be shared by four students but medical schools are currently struggling to find cadavers.

Prof. Omaswa, the ACHEST director receiving a gift from Yang Hongwei, the CNHDRC the Acting Director General

Prof. Omaswa, the ACHEST director receiving a gift from Yang Hongwei, the CNHDRC the Acting Director GeneralThe African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST), will be conducting research on South-South Cooperation in Health.

The research is part of the China-UK Global Health Support Programme, which aims to deepen global health development cooperation between China and Africa. This will contribute to improving the quality of health care with China’s increasing participation in global health.

The research project was launched during a two-day visit to China by ACHEST leadership from April 22-23, 2014. This was at the invitation of China-UK Global Health Support Program. ACHEST was represented by a four-member delegation that included Prof. Francis Omaswa, Dr. Patrick Kadama, Dr. Peter Eriki and Solome Mukwaya.

Prof. Francis Omaswa center during the launch of the ministers handbook-GenevaThat a healthy nation is a wealthy nation is not up for debate any more. That is why there are many well-intentioned programs aimed at improving health and access to health services the world over.

However, as recipients of health services such as mothers, children and the elderly as well services providers like the doctors and nurses are always at the fore-front of many campaigns, the people who govern and manage the country’s health systems - the ministers - are usually forgotten.
But on May 22, 2014 the ministers of health were the focus. A book titled, “Handbook for Health Ministers” was launched in Geneva, Switzerland by Dr. Pinkie Rosemary Manamolela, the Lesotho kingdom health minister.