'MUST' Women at the forefront of impacting Ugandans

In April 2020, Mbarara University of Science and Technology signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health to organize and conduct five month long Critical Care Training Program of 400 Nurses phased in 4 equal cohorts. This project has been timely with the challenge of the pandemic where critical care was in high demand. With the support from Uganda Reproductive Maternal Child Health Service improvement Project ( URMCHIP) project of the World Bank, through the Ministry of Health, it has been possible to train a cadre of core staff that will improve critical care and ICU Management in the country.

Dr. Grace Nambooze (PhD) from the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine was contacted by the Ministry of Health, to write a concept on training of in- service intensive care nurses who can be deployed country wide to provide critical care nursing. The concept and workplan was approved. Dr. Nambooze was then appointed the National Coordinator in-service intensive critical care training programme in the entire country. From the Ministry of Health, Mr. Patrick Baruhagare, the Principal Human Resource Officer was appointed as the ministry coordinator of the project, to work closely with the National Coordinator to organize, plan and coordinate the entire programme. His office ensures that the ministry receives updates on the entire project, especially regarding intakes of each cohort, welfare, tuition fees sent to MUST on time).

The training aimed at:

Equipping nurses with relevant knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competence required to work in Intensive Care Units.
Promoting optimal use of ICU equipment and delivery of safe and quality care to the critically ill patients and their families using holistic approach
Developing the capacity of the trainees to utilize technology for providing safe and quality care
So far 400 nurses have been trained country wide in 3 phases: Phase 1- face to face in BLS training 1 month; Phase 2 – hands on ICU training in Mulago National Referral Hospital to expose the trainees to well-equipped facilities; Phase 3 – go back to their home ICU and work with mentors, facilitators and other acdres in each facility such as Doctors, Nurses and Anesthesiologist in their own settings. This is hoped to build confidence for the trained persons to address any gaps that may arise. These have been supported by ICUs in: Mengo Hospital International Hospital Kampala, MEDI PAL Hospital, Kampala Hospital, Case Clinic Kampala, Nsambya Hospital, Nakasero Hospital ,Victoria Hospital, Heart Institute Mulago, Accident and Emergency Unit New Mulago, New Mulago ICU, Women Hospital Mulago, RubagaHospital,andNovikHospital.

On Behalf of MUST, Prof. Obua thanks URMCHIP project of the World Bank, for supporting this noble cause to impact Ugandans. He further thanked the Ministry of Health for support rendered in the training; to the MUST Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nursing Staff – you made MUST proud.