Makerere University School of Public Health trains trainers to address evidence based Public Health gap
Participants pose with their certificate after successfully completing the Training of Trainers Course at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala
There is an increasing burden of Public Health threats that impose an immeasurable scale of impact to communities. Many institutions are involved in training practitioners and yet, it has been observed that there is a gap in evidence-based public health (EBPH) training initiatives. As a result, there was a need to train and strengthen the capacity of health practitioners and researchers teaching evidence based health Public Health.
Acknowledging this need, Makerere University School of Public Health organized a four day Training of Trainers Evidence Based Public Health Course in partnership with The Collaboration for Evidence-based Health Care and Public Health in Africa, (CEBHA+) at Imperial Royale in Kampala from December 1- 4, 2020.
The workshop sought to skill trainers on how to ; develop and implement and teach evidence-based Public Health to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases and unintentional injuries in Africa; and delivering online courses using methods that facilitate active learning in the evidence based public health education .
FOUR DAYS OF TRAINING
During four intensive days, fourteen participants— from Makerere University School of Public Health, Ndejje University, Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO) — discussed various topics ranging from e-learning, instructional design to presentation skills among different target groups. Together they developed lesson plans, practiced teaching skills, as well as conducted and facilitated micro teaching sessions in Evidence Based Health Care and Public Health.
The training sessions started on day one with an ’’ introduction to Evidence Based Health care’’ where participants were introduced to the principles of evidence-based practice
Day two, Mr. Bonny E. Balugaba facilitated the next module which covered topics such as Application of ICT in teaching, Internet platforms, Reusable learning materials and Makerere University E-learning Environment (MUELE) platform.
Mr. Bonny E. Balugaba introducing students to Makerere University E-learning Environment (MUELE) platform
On Day Three, Participants were skilled on Uploading files on the MUELE platform, incorporating Videos, Audios within power point presentations, making edits within MUELE and how to make good presentations
Also, participants were randomly given topics and tasked to make presentations. As a result, a Number of participants presented on topics like randomization, blinding in research, policy briefs, systematic reviews among others
On Day Four, Jimmy Osuret -one of the Course facilitators tipped students through instructional design process which included various stages of coming up with a module to the last stage of uploading into the e-learning platform
Jimmy Osuret introducing participants to instructional design
This was followed by every participant making presentations on assigned topics like evidence based health care, searching for literature, research strategy and public speaking among others
Tenda Kibira Irene making a presentation
When asked about the Course, All participants hailing from multi-sectoral realms of health stated that the training is timely given the new normal brought by Covid-19 Pandemic. They expressed their gratitude to the organizers and funders of the project in the following remarks.
Quotes from some of the participants:
Nakigozi Harriet-Ministry of Health
Under this Training of Trainers course, I have been able to learn various instructional design and presentation skills and how to embrace ICT in the current teaching environment and how to design curriculum for various programs .I believe it will help me in my endeavors to become a good researcher and academician
Samson Omongot and Harriet Nakitende in a group discussion
Dr.Bongomin Bodo-World Health Organization
I previously attended the evidence based public health that was conducted by School of Public Health. The previous course was of very high quality and I got impressed to participate in this training of trainers course. What I have appreciated and liked about this TOT is the quality of the faculty, positive feedback from the participants and methodology used in the training.
The course is very relevant in my work which includes supporting ministry of Health to develop guidelines and I will use the knowledge acquired in the development of guidelines and training materials with the ministry of Health and University of Gulu where I occasionally do part time teaching
Dr.Bongomin Bodo from World Health Organization contributing at the training
Anne Chimoyi-Ndejje University
This training is relevant to the instructional needs of this changing environment. For People who want to impart knowledge and as we move to virtual classrooms. Learning instructional design is very relevant .The learning objectives were met and the course was delivered efficiently
Anne Chimoyi says learning instructional design is very relevant in the new normal characterized by virtual learning
Ninsiima Mackline –MHSR Graduate Student
Pursuing the TOT-CEBHA+ course has been a great opportunity which has equipped me with instructional design and presentation skills of online and conference sessions
Mackline Ninsiima taking notes at the training
Maxencia Nabiryo-School of Public Health
It was great learning how to deliver a course online using methods that facilitates active learning. It was very great to learn about the ‘’sandwich way of providing feedback where you begin with a positive comment then call for improvement when you notice something negative when training
Maxencia Nabiryo making a presentation at the training
Okello David-School of Public Health
The training is very vital for researchers and equips them with skills to be able to share their relevant findings in a simplified manner and also be able to impart knowledge to others .In addition, the training enhances communication skills of researchers and policy makers.
David Okello sharing his thoughts on one of the presentations made by a participant
By the end of the training, all participants had learnt how to independently draw lesson plans and run courses on Evidence Based Health Care for their different target groups. As a result of their efforts, determination and passion, the participants successfully crowned off their training with a certificate in Training of Trainers Evidence Based Public Health Course.
In her closing remarks, Prof.Harriet Mayanja-Kizza, in a special way congratulated the participants for successfully completing the course adding that teaching is an art which should involve the learner because each person has something positive
Prof.Harriet Mayanja-Kizza attending one of the training sessions
She equally thanked the facilitators namely Dr.Ann Akiteng, Jimmy Osuret and Mr. Bonny E. Balugaba for conducting the training and tasked trainers to train others in their disciplines to enhance sustainability and expertise in their various disciplines
As a matter of fact, course facilitators were students during the first courses, thereby contributing to both local ownership and sustainability of Evidence Based Health Care.
Dr.Ann Akiteng (right), Jimmy Osuret (left) and Mr. Bonny E. Balugaba (centre) were commended by participants for successfully conducting the training
According to Dr.Olive Kobusingye, the training is timely because it gives an opportunity for various health stakeholders to learn how to develop and implement evidence based interventions at a low cost.
This is because trainers become evidence based training agents in their respective communities
More about CEBHA+
The Collaboration for Evidence-based Health Care and Public Health in Africa (CEBHA+) is a network of seven African partners in Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Malawi and South Africa, and two German partners, aiming to build long-term capacity and infrastructure for evidence-based healthcare and public health in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The aim of the Collaboration is to develop and implement evidence-based interventions to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases and unintentional injuries in Africa.