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Investing in Nurses & Midwives: Reflections from Uganda

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  This post was co-authored by Irene Atuhairwe Duhaga, BScN, MPH and Tracy Kobukindo, BScN, MPH on the occasion of International Day of the Nurse. Irene serves as Technical Advisor for Nursing and Midwifery for Seed Global Health in Uganda. Tracy is a Nurse and public health specialist also working in Uganda. Celebrations and Somber Realities As the world geared up to celebrate the International Day of the Midwife (May 5th) and the International Day of the Nurse (May 12th), we reflect on the first quarter of 2020, a year that was declared by WHO as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife (YONM). According to WHO, 2020 is meant to “celebrate the work for nurses and midwives, highlight the challenging conditions they often face, and advocate for increased investments in the nursing and midwifery workforce.” In a sad twist, celebrating during YONM has become less palatable given the COVID-19 pandemic that has seen nurses and midwives (among other health workers) all over the world
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THE ROLE OF THINK TANKS IN FRAMING POLICY AND ‘KNOWLEDGE REGIMES’; THE CASE OF UGANDA NURSES AND MIDWIVES THINK TANK (NMLTT)

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By Tracy Kobukindo Kamau and Assoc Prof. Rose Clarke Nanyonga, Editors, NMLTT Newsletter Background Think Tanks have evolved over the last century into well-respected, autonomous, non-governmental, not-for-profit, independent ‘institutes’ whose influence spans across sectors of health, education, economics, and although usually ‘politically neutral’ (1) or non-partisan (2), Think Tanks continue to have a significant impact on governments, politics 3, often affecting policy environments, reforms that affect how people live, trade or access health care. Today, there are about 7000 Think Tanks worldwide, but only 500 of those are in Africa (1). The USA has the highest number of Think Tanks, Washington D.C. alone has 400 (1). This phenomenon isn’t unexpected, considering that Think Tanks typically flourish in more developed regions. Moreover, they often thrive in places where intellectual respect is synonymous with settings where political stability supports freedom of speech, ‘freedom of
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The Uganda DAISY Awards: What went wrong

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  Photo courtersy of URN The Global Nursing Fraternity celebrated International Nurses Week last week, Friday 6th -  Thursday 12th May, culminating in a busy and joyous celebration on 12th May. The date is special because it is the birthday of Florence Nightingale – considered the mother of Nursing; although equally significant contributions to the early profession by Mary Seacole (of black descent) have recently come to light. Their mission to Crimea, and the care they offered the soldiers in the war, saved lives and gave birth to our noble profession. The nurses’ week is therefore used to celebrate and recognise the contribution of the largest health workforce to health systems, leadership, and our communities.  But it has not always been like this. The first proposal to mark the celebration of Nurses Day was presented to President Eisenhower (USA) in 1953. The following year, National Nurses week was observed from October 11 -16,  marking the 100th anniver
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Meet The Nurse Who Wheeled her Patient for 5km to A Hospital

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Dorris wheels her patient to the Hospital in Arua District accompanied by a care taker For a long time now, Nurses and Midwives in Uganda have worked in low resource health facilities, and done so fairly well. Part of their success in these settings & key determinant is their willingness and ability to quickly adapt, innovate and recover. It is an admirable on-to the next one attitude. They have learned to use meager resources wisely, save essential medicines, care for and save as many lives as possible, even under tasking conditions such as, low pay, long work hours, lack of adequate Personal Protective Equipment, and lack of advanced technology. Uganda's  Nurses and Midwives make up 70% of the health work force, each and every one of those has done something sacrificial that only they or their patients know.  We are lucky in a way to be able to share in Dorris’ sacrifice, because it reminds us of those Nurses and Midwives that have gone above & beyond their duty
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