A reflection of my volunteer experience through Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) Partnership

1. A Reflection of My volunteer experience
Through The Nottingham Trent University
(NTU)
and
Makerere University School of Public
Health (MakSPH) Partnership
Lorna Marufu
Makerere University

2. Aims and Objectives
Discuss the background of the Partnership between NTU and MakSPH.
Briefly discuss of the Tropical Health Education Trust Project.
Talk about my responsibilities within the THET project.
• Data Management
• THET Mid-Term Review
• THET Uganda official office launch
Dissertation/ Thesis
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
Development
• Professional
• Academic
• Personal

3. NTU and MakSPH Partnership
 Started the link in 2008 through environmental health/ Water for
children.
 Visits to Uganda: MUEHSA
Conference Keynotes
 Staff and Student exchange.
 Small start up grants to establish
partnership formally with THET
(Tropical Health Education Trust)

4. THET project
 Project was launched in May, 2015
 It aims to strengthen community health workers Ssisa sub county, Wakiso
district through supervision, training and motivation.
 24 coordinators and 301 CHWs have been trained so far.
 CHWs have received incentives such as, gumboots, solar panels,
umbrellas and t shirts .
 The project has provided 3 motorcycles which has greatly supported
other health activities.
 To date CHWs have visited 11,149 homes
 Health Educated 32,295 individuals
 1,884 children have been treated

5. THET MID-TERM REVIEW
 40 people were present from different organizations and institutions.
 Discussed the partnership between NTU and MakSPH.
 Briefly discussed the THET Project.
 Highlighted the achievements attained by the partnership .
 The review enabled me to appreciate the success and challenges faced by
the project.
 What was significant to me was the collaboration and support the project had
particularly received from MOH and the district local government.
 I had the opportunity to interact with fellow students, professionals from diverse
back grounds and community health workers.

6. THET MID TERM REVIEW

7. Data Management
 Working on the THET project gave me the opportunity to take lead in
data management.
My Responsibilities included:
 Organizing Data
 Entering Data
 Sharing Data with the team
 Data Quality control and assurance

8. MEETING THE COMMUNITY HEALTH
WORKER IN SSISA

9. THET OFFICE LAUNCH UGANDA
 The Team was specially chosen to present at the office launch.
 Attending this launch was a great opportunity for me to learn and appreciate
THET as an organization.
 I got to know about other projects supported by THET in Uganda, their
successes as well as their challenges.
 It was a good opportunity to network

10. THET OFFICE LAUNCH UGANDA

11. Dissertation
 Working with CHWs on the THET Project influenced my Masters Research.
 With the support from NTU and MakSPH I focused my research on female
community health workers.
 I was motivated to find out the barriers and facilitators of female CHWs when
performing their role.
 With the support of THET, NTU and MakSPH I collected my Data in Wakiso District,
Ssisa sub county .
 My results find out that factors such as, drug shortages, lack of spousal support,
lack of incentives, community perspectives, harassment were barriers to their
roles.
 Factors such as non financial incentives, statuses within the community, drug
availability, appropriate training seemed to facilitate CHWs to perform well in
their roles.

12. Dissertation

13. Development
 Increased confidence.
 Self Awareness.
 Improved academic writing.
 I have gained fundamental Research skills such as the ability to devise and
design data collection tools, transcribe, analyses data and present results.
 To carry out presentations.
 Increased efficiency.
 Able to manage time effectively.

14. Lessons Learnt
 Challenges faced by community health workers when trying to
promote the health and wellbeing of their communities.
 The CHW model could be beneficial in the UK health system,
particularity when trying to engage with ethnic minorities.
 Small changes have a big impact.
 Community is everything.

15. Acknowledgements
 Dr. Linda Gibson
 Dr. David Musoke
 Mrs. Ann McCarthy (Module Leader)
 Mr. Charles Ssemugabo
 Mr. Rawlance Ndejjo
 Professor. William Bazeyo
 Dr. John Ssempebwa
 All MakSPH staff and students

16. Thank You