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.