Infectious Disease Project Consulting Field Visit in Uganda

On August 17^th 2023, the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) and consultants from Yeungnam University comprising 4 Professors held a roundtable meeting with Ministry of Health: departments of National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS), Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies (IES&PHE), the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) and the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH) under the “Strengthening Health System to Prevent, Detect and Respond to Infectious Disease in Uganda” (Infectious Disease) project.

The objective of the meeting was for the consultants to share findings of their field visit and recommendations to the partners for better project implementation going forward. It also included presentation of the short-term invitational training program to South Korea for key persons in the different departments.

The consultants led by Prof. Kyeong-soo Lee conducted their first field visit to understand the local context and circumstances so that they can provide consultation in consideration of what can be applied in Uganda. Their main roles are to support project implementing partners (IES&PHE, UNIPH, PHEOC, NHLDS) with setting project indicators, coming up with the entire project plan with a tracking system, effective and efficient implementation & management of the project, project progress review in addition to providing invitational training to Korea and physical & virtual consultation meetings.

The visiting team

1. Prof. Kyeongsoo Lee / M.D., Ph.D. / Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health / Yeungnam University College of Medicine* Principal Investigator of the “Consultation for Strengthening the Health System to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Infectious Diseases in Uganda” Project
2. Prof. Taeyoon Hwang / M.D., Ph.D. / Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health / Yeungnam University College of Medicine
3. Prof. Keunsang Kwon / M.D., Ph.D. / Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health / Jeonbuk National University Medical School
4. Visiting Prof. Howoong Yoo / Ph.D. / Department of Saemaul Studies and International Development / Yeungnam University

The Country Team

1. Alex R. Ario, Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health
2. Dansan Atim, Senior Medical Officer, Ministry of Health
3. Issa Makumbi, Deputy Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health
4. Susan Nabadda, Commissioner Laboratory and Diagnostic Services
5. Anne Nakinsige, Principal Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health
6. Alfred Wejuli, Senior Veterinary Public Health Officer, Ministry of Health
7. Daniel Kadobera, Program Coordinator – Advanced Field Epidemiology, Uganda National Institute of Public Health
8. Kaliisa Ruth, Project Manager, Korea Foundation for International Healthcare
9. Diana Nasike, Health Security Policy officer, National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre
10. Isaac Ssewanyana, Laboratory Director, National Health Laboratory Diagnostic Services
11. Susan Nambozo, Project Manager, National Health Laboratory Diagnostic Services]

Meeting Gallary