Shem Mwebaza

Shem Mwebaza

BBLT (MUK), MSc MLS (MUK) & Fellowship in Public Health Laboratory Leadership (UNIPH/MOH)
Email: shemsteven@gmail.com; smwebaza@uniph.go.ug
Telephone: +256702987664

Host Site: Mildmay Uganda

Host Mentor: Mr. Lali William

ABOUT THE FELLOW

Shem Mwebaza is a laboratory leader and  medical laboratory specialist. He holds a Master  of Science degree in Biomedical Laboratory  Sciences and Management and a Bachelor’s  degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technology,  both from Makerere University. He possesses vast  experience in working with the Ministry of Health,  donors and implementing partners to strengthen  laboratory systems for Research & Surveillance  with the aim of generating new knowledge, and  preventing and detecting outbreaks.

During the fellowship, Shem was attached to  Mildmay Uganda, where he was employed as a  laboratory systems coordinator. Mildmay Uganda  (MUg) is a registered local Non-Government  Organization (NGO) that implements sub national health systems strengthening programs  that have contributed significantly to national health outcomes. MUg has modeled quality and  sustainable prevention, care, and treatment of HIV

and other health priorities, using a family-centered approach together with training, education, and  research in Uganda. MUg is a quality-driven organization that is ISO  9001:2015 certified. Its medical laboratory is ISO  15189:2012 certified and is a backup platform to  Uganda’s Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL).  Through the in-service training, he has attained  great skills in laboratory leadership and  management, communication, continuous quality improvement, disease surveillance, outbreak  investigation, and response including data analysis,  interpretation, and use.

  Achievements at the Host Site

– At his host site, Shem was able to work  with the Health Systems Strengthening team  to establish a district-based competency  assessment system in Mubende Region which  was the first district-based competency  assessment modal in the country

– He was able to work the laboratory  manager and department heads to establish  an interlaboratory test comparison quality  assurance scheme as a means of ensuring  quality testing in the supported laboratories  to enhance accreditation efforts and testing  scope.

Fellowship program specific achievements

– Co-authored the first National Laboratory  Guidelines for Preparedness and Response to  Public Health Emergencies.

– Led laboratory coordination in three disease  outbreak investigations

▪ Anthrax in Ibanda District

▪ Food poisoning in Jinja city

– Participated in two other outbreak  investigations

▪ Cholera in Kyotera District

▪ Anthrax in Kyotera District

– Published two articles in the New Vision Daily  newspaper

▪ Regular competence assessment needed  to improve healthcare, New Vision 9, August  2023

▪ Our public transport system, a public health  risk, New Vision, 23 April 2024

– Published an additional four (two as lead author & two as co-author) in the Uganda  Public Health Bulletin.

– Served as an editorial team member for  Uganda Public Health Bulletin, volume 8, issue  3, July-September 2023.

– Wrote four manuscripts (one as lead author  and three as co-author). These are undergoing  institutional clearance.

– Presented his work at three conferences (one international and two national) 8th World One  Health Congress, Cape town, South Africa.

9th National Field Epidemiology Conference,  Kampala, Uganda 23rd Annual Scientific Conference and 25 Annual  Celebrations, Kampala, Uganda

– Conducted a continuous improvement  project to establish a district-based  competency assessment system in Mubende  Region

– Conducted a descriptive analysis of Evaluating  the District Health Information System Version  2 (DHIS-2) laboratory test menu fulfillment  rates in Uganda

– Conducted a capstone project to develop  Laboratory Continuous Professional  Development Operational Guidelines for  Uganda, January-December 2024

Summary of Epidemiological Study: 

 Title: Development of Laboratory Continuous  Professional Development Operational  Guidelines for Uganda, January-December  2024

Background: Continuous Professional  Development (CPD) training addresses  inadequacies in the initial training programs and  equip employees with up-to-date knowledge  and skills relevant and current to their profession.  Despite efforts by Allied Health Professionals  Council (AHPC) and Uganda Medical Laboratory  Technology Association (UMLTA) to ensure CPD  programs reach laboratory professionals in the  country, only 46% access them. We aimed at  developing laboratory CPD operational guidelines  for laboratory professionals in Uganda. It is hoped  that the operational guidelines will outline key  elements of laboratory CPD program and clarify  policy and process questions that have been  raised while implementing the current policies  and guidelines to lead to an increase in access  and utilization of the various CPD opportunities.

Methods: A mix of virtual and physical meetings  and workshops with key stakeholders including  AHPC, UMLTA, Uganda National Health Laboratory  Services (UNHLS), Implementing partners and  public & private institutions will be held to for buy in, consensus building and to identify hindering &  enabling factors for CPD program accessibility.  This forum selected a Technical Working Group  (TWG) that spearheaded the implementation of  the project. Comprehensive needs assessment  and bench marking of the laboratory CPD program  was done. Findings from these activities informed  the comprehensive operational guidelines for the  laboratory CPD program.

Results: Laboratory CPD Operational Guidelines  for laboratory professionals in Uganda were  developed. The guidelines were in the final review  process by the Chairperson and Registrar Allied  Health Professionals Council.

Conclusion: The first Operational guidelines for the  Uganda laboratory CPD program were developed  and are in the process of being approved by the  time of writing this report.

Conclusion:

Key lessons learnt during the fellowship

• Effective team management and collaboration:  through working with district leadership, Shem  has learnt how to manage diverse teams of  researchers, technicians, and students.  • Critical thinking and strategic decision making: Shem has gained experience in making  strategic decisions related to laboratory work  environments, research priorities, resource  allocation, and experimental design. This skill  set has enhanced his ability to assess risks  and opportunities while keeping the broader  goals of the program in mind.

• Conflict resolution: In any laboratory, conflicts  can arise due to differences in opinions,  approaches, or interpersonal dynamics. Out  of this training program and field exposure,  Shem is able mediate conflicts and find  solutions that respect the perspectives of all parties while maintaining focus on the project  goals.

• Shem has acquired a deeper understanding  of the Role of mentor working with Mr. Lali  William. He has gained insight into how to  mentor junior researchers, students, or lab  members effectively, to provide guidance,  feedback, and professional development  opportunities that can help others grow in  their careers.
• Shem has acquired Critical thinking, Innovation  and Problem-Solving skills, to identify and  overcome logistical and operational hurdles  in various work settings
• Shem has acquired skills in budgeting, Resource  Management, grant writing, fundraising, and  financial stewardship, which are critical skills  modern laboratory environments.
• Communication Skills: Shem has mastered  the Science and Art of presenting research  and information clearly, whether through  writing papers, delivering presentations, or  interacting with different audiences.
• Building a Research Network: Through the  various conferences attended, Shem has  established a community of practice network  with other leaders in the field. He understands  the importance of building and maintaining  relationships with collaborators, institutions,  and industry partners.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Shem  understands that set setbacks are a part  of the process. He has learnt how to be  resilient in the face of challenges and adapt  to new situations, whether dealing with failed  experiments, shifting priorities, or changes in  the scientific landscape.

Next Steps

• Shem plans to provide my technical assistance  and expertise in laboratory systems  strengthening for the country to support other  laboratory professionals through mentoring  and supporting other laboratory fellows as  a give back in support of the program and  contributing to the growth and sustainability  of the Uganda National Institute of Public  health.
• Currently, Shem is working as a laboratory  Manager at the Coalition for Epidemic  preparedness and Innovations- Uganda Virus  research Institute (CEPI-UVRI) laboratory.  CEPI’s Centralized Laboratory Network (CLN)  was launched in 2020 to provide standardized  testing support to vaccine developers  worldwide. The CLN is the world’s largest  consortium of laboratories that offers critical  testing services to vaccine developers,  ensuring consistency in data readouts, which  streamlines the assessment of multiple  vaccine candidates.

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