COVID-19: Makerere launches course on pandemic preparedness

COVID-19|EDUCATION|MAKERERE

KAMPALA - As COVID-19 continues to devastate the World, Makerere University has launched a Pandemic Preparedness with One Health approach (PPOH) course.

According to health experts the one month course aims at equipping participants with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills in disease outbreak, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response.

Dr Gabriel Tumwine, heading the course's organising committee told New Vision that  this is an opportunity for responders of disease outbreak, frontline implementers, crisis communicators, social scientists, and agriculturalists, to learn from experts who will train them to analyse and explain the challenges of pandemic preparedness and response under a one-health approach.

"We plan to pilot with 24 people who will be sponsored. Later after the pilot we plan to work forward to avail the course to both technical and nontechnical personnel that directly and indirectly get involved in pandemic preparedness and response,'' Tumwine explained.

He revealed that the pilot course which is expected to take place from November 1st - 30th will be conducted by College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) in partnership with Makerere University School of Public Health (MaKSPH).

He further explained that the course will be full time and will be presented in a face - to - face encounter and e-learning modes. 

Tumwine added that there will be discussions, case studies, problem-based learning, field visits, and integration of learning in multi-disciplinary and interactive workshops, giving opportunities for reflection on the experiences of work-based practice.

"The funding to Pandemic Preparedness Project (PanPrep) that foresees this course in the East African Community (EAC) is donated by the Federal Republic of Germany. The Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on the other hand is implementing the project in close collaboration with the EAC Secretariat.'' Tumwine revealed.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a minimum of Bachelor's degree from a university recognized in the following areas: human health, animal health and science, environmental sciences, agriculture, community development, trade, tourism, economists, social scientists, risk and crisis communicators, logisticians.

In addition they must be citizens of one of the East African Community Partner States (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda).