Peace Corps Uganda celebrates partnership with Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences with Ambassador visit
On January 30, 2024, the U.S. Ambassador to Kampala, William W. Popp toured Busitema University's Faculty of Health Sciences in Mbale. The U.S. Peace Corps has placed 12 Volunteers there since 2017.
Busitema University
The Ambassador was hosted by the Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Waako, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Dan Kibuule, and the Head of the Department of Nursing, Lydia Ssenyonga.
Peace Corps Uganda Partnership with Busitema
Busitema University has partnered with Peace Corps Uganda since 2016, first under the Global Health Service Partnerships (GHSP) program and currently under the Advancing Health Professionals (AHP) program is falls under the high-impact, short-term program called Peace Corps Response. AHP aims to strengthen health systems by training health professionals. Peace Corps Volunteers are assigned to non-clinical, specialized short-term assignments that contribute to the training of the health workforce and will contribute towards better health outcomes for the Ugandan population.
Meaningful partnership
Over the past 7 years, 12 Peace Corps Volunteers have served at Busitema University in the health sciences faculty to strengthen nursing and medical education through the training and mentorship of medical and nursing students. Additionally, between 2022 and 2023, three academic experts through the Peace Corps Virtual Service Pilot (VSP) virtually engaged with the Faculty of Health Sciences, to support faculty and deliver online lectures. The Volunteers’ and virtual participants’ specialty areas include nursing education, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine for a period of 6 to 12 months.
Current Volunteer
Brenda Lind hails from New England. She is at the tail end of her 6-month assignment at the Nursing Department at Busitema University. She serves as a nurse lecturer in medical and surgical nursing. In U.S., Brenda is an Assistant Nursing Professor and Instructor specializing in Medical and Surgical Nursing curriculum instruction and learning tools development. She has written about her experiences teaching nursing students in Uganda through creativity and adapting to their local context and resources.
Nursing Students demonstrate for the Ambassador
Under the instruction of Peace Corps Volunteer Brenda, nursing students demonstrated their skills in a simulation lab. They demonstrated taking care of a patient, communicating with the patient, communicating with other nurses, and reassuring the patient's family.