Kyambogo, International universities form bio-medical training network
Aug 30, 2012
UGANDAN universities and their counterparts in the neighbouring countries are coming together to design equipment that will assist Ugandans cut the costs incurred by the importation of medical equipment
By Juliet Waiswa
UGANDAN universities and their counterparts in the neighbouring countries are coming together to design equipment that will assist Ugandans cut the costs incurred by the importation of medical equipment.
The innovation, according to the Kyambogo university vice-chancellor, Prof. Isaiah Ndiege, will assist bio-medical students improve their knowledge and skills in different fields.
The students are to design medical equipment for hospitals and health centres.
Students from the universities of Moi, Kenyatta and Nairobi (Kenya), Kyambogo, Mbarara and Makerere (Uganda) and from Zambia, attended a one-week training.
The training which took place at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute came up with technological innovations like the affordable incubating machine and other bio-medical equipment.
The undergraduates came up with ideas that will be used to make equipment for health centres and hospitals.
They, among others, designed an infant incubator, an X-ray machine and some gadgets to to repair medical equipment.
“Africans spend a lot of money on the importation of medical equipment and yet some of it is not applicable here. We are trying to strengthen science and technology in higher institutions of learning to avoid spending on importation,” the Makerere University vice-chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, said.
Baryamureeba told students that they should use the opportunity and carry out scientific research to improve their knowledge and skills.
He said the aim of the training was to encourage the youth to be more creative in the medical field.
“People cannot access the services they need in hospitals because the equipment is broken down. Repairing such equipment would be less costly than importing new ones,” Baryamureeba explained.
The project was initiated by Ugandan universities to improve the management of bio-medical equipment in the health sector and cope with the technological advancements in bio-medical field.