UTA faculty and students to participate in African health initiative

by PegNews wire

ARLINGTON—The Ugandan ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Perezi Kamunanwire, recently met with the Uganda team of the North Texas Africa Health Initiative at The University of Texas at Arlington. The purpose of the meeting was to finalize the plans for the team’s visit to Uganda in July. The members of the Uganda team include Dr. Jennifer Gray, HIV researcher and associate dean for the PhD in Nursing Program at UT Arlington; Dr. Alusine Jalloh, founding director of the UT Arlington Africa Program and history professor; Jackline Opollo, RN, MSN student and Lori Spies, RN, NP-C, PhD student.

The purpose of the North Texas Africa Health Initiative is to address health care challenges in Africa through a partnership between African countries and a group of North Texas universities, hospitals and the religious community. This project will equip health care workers with culturally congruent competencies aimed at intensifying awareness, outreach, prevention, and treatment of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in rural Uganda.

During their upcoming trip to Uganda, the team will talk to government and academic leaders about strategies to develop a sustainable source of health care for persons living in rural areas. The itinerary includes meeting the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and the Queen of Buganda, Her Royal Highness Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda. The team will visit hospitals, orphanages and community organizations providing HIV/AIDS care to gather information about the feasibility and logistics of a mobile health clinic and provide a workshop for health care professionals. The team will also provide a one-day workshop for health professionals on HIV/AIDS care, human resource development and professional communication.

For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Gray at (817) 272-5295, or visit http://www.washdiplomat.com/ambprof/uganda.html.

Source: UTA