NML-ISSUE 11

Year of the Health and Care Workers 2021

Sr. Christine Otai of Kiwoko Hospital receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from the US Ambassador to Uganda, Natalie E. Brown. Congratulations

At the recently held Ministry of Health 2021 Heroes in Health Awards…Nurses and Midwives won in various categories. In this issue we celebrate their wins on page 12. Congratulations again

The Nurses and Midwives Letter Issue 11

THE NURSE & MIDWIVES LEADERS’ THINK TANK

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TABLE OF CONTENTS REMARKS FROM VICE CHAIR NMLTT .......................................................................................................................................... 3 A MESSAGE FROM MS. KETTY LAMARO, THE PERMANENT SECRETARY MOES........................................................... 6 MOTHERHOOD, LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND................................................................................................................................. 8 FOOD FOR THOUGHT FROM HAPPIER JANUARY 2022 ........................................................................................................... 10 UPDATES ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 CHRISTINE OTAI: WINNER: HIHA2021 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD .................................................................... 12 ACHIEVEMENTS .................................................................................................................................................................................. 14 WEBINAR CONFERENCE................................................................................................................................................................... 15 RESOURCE LIST FOR NURSES AND MIDWIVES ........................................................................................................................ 16 LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND ACADEMIC RESOURCES ................................................................................................. 16 NMLTT ON GOING ACTIVITIES ...................................................................................................................................................... 17

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REMARKS FROM VICE CHAIR NMLTT Dear Nurses and Midwives, It is a pleasure to communicate once again with you in this publication! We thank you for the tremendous work you have done during the past Covid-19 pandemic and enduring through the 2nd wave of Covid-19 that claimed a significant number of us. Because you are, we are! Our prayers and heartfelt condolences to the families of our departed colleagues.

I take this opportunity to Welcome the Guest writer for this edition, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Ms. Ketty Lamaro. Allow me to congratulate her on her appointment as permanent secretary to the Ministry of Education and Sports. As nurses and midwives, we look forward to working with you and your team in the education of future health professionals.

I wish to congratulate and welcome Ms. Christine Nimwesiga the new Registrar of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council. As your predecessor, I pledge to support you to take the council to greater heights for the good of the nursing and midwifery fratenity.

Much as Covid-19 has had a tremendous negative impact on us, we shall not fail to appreciate the fact that it has tickled and opened our minds as regulators to view nursing and midwifery in a different perspective as well as think outside the box so as to provide guidance to the profession effectively. This positivity has not only been felt by the regulators but has also impacted nurses and midwives. Nurses and midwives have embraced technology and created an online presence more than ever before. Nurses and midwives have strengthened their writing skills and promoted information sharing and discussions through social media platforms and newspapers, bringing a new face to the nursing and midwifery profession in Uganda.

However, this revolution has not been devoid of challenges. Fraudsters have had increased access to information, giving them the opportunity to adulterate it to meet their own needs; incorrect information has been shared across media, causing mistrust, negativity, character assassination, and obstruction to correct information flow within debatable picture about the profession. These encounters have been further amplified by the challenges brought by compliance to Covid-19 standard operating procedures and the shortage of staff experienced at the Nurses and Midwives Council. In pursuit to control the spread of Covid-19 but yet offer services, the Council has had to reduce on the number of client encounters at its premises which has slowed not only the registration and licensure processes but also the consultation roles of the Council. This has created avenue for imposters to mingle among unregistered qualified nurses and midwives as well as expose the institution to fake registration processes exposing the public to unsafe nursing and midwifery practices.

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Put at the limelight, the Council has not continued without paying attention to these critical issues that have influenced regulation. To boost the registration and licensure processes, the Council has introduced regional registration programs and strengthened existing licensure programs at the regions. The Council has been able to conduct whole week interviews for nurses and midwives at Certificate and Diploma level at central points in regions which has reduced on the backlog. We are happy to inform that the Council is now handling the registration of the most recently qualified nurses and midwives whose results were released in May 2021. These programs will continue until the backlog is cleared. In addition, the licensure team at the regions have been occasionally boosted by the head office team to provide practicing licenses, create opportunity for certification, and issue of registration certificates. Keeping that aside, the online registration system is also in its final stages with the registration and licensure for professionals and registration and licensure for clinics modules ready for rollout. Integration of this system with other relevant institutions has been secured.

We therefore call upon all newly qualified nurses and midwives at Certificate and Diploma level who have not yet registered with the Nurses and Midwives Council to reach out and book for their registration and also yield to the Council call for registration in different regions. Nurses and midwives in practice are also encouraged to pursue their renewal of practicing license and certification of their professional documents from the Council regional satellite centres based in Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Gulu, Lira, Arua, Mubende, Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Hoima, and Fort portal at the regional referral hospitals. With this, we can fight the spread of Covid-19 together and kick it out of Uganda.

Nurses and midwives are also encouraged to embrace the Council communication portals: Website (www.unmc.ug), official email (info@unmc.ug; unmcouncil@yahoo.com), and official telephone contact (0393 290372) in their pursuit of information and not rely on social media or telephone calls to colleagues for authentic information.

The nursing and midwifery professional code of conduct implores all of us to desist from activities that destroy the professional image at all times. Because we all have this role of promoting our professional image, let us not be caught off guard by transmitting and publicizing incorrect information most especially information that relate to government statutory laws, policies and regulations. As the legendary slogan “Knowledge is Power” entreats, we appeal to Nurses and Midwives, to always approach the governmental offices with jurisdiction for adequate authentic information. We believe that anyone embraced with correct information can engage in and stimulate fruitful discussions that will lead to practical deliberations at the different levels of implementation. Ignorance of the law is not a defense at a time of an offense. This revolution is therefore calling upon each of us to be scholars of government policies, laws and regulations that impact our practice so that we are able to effectively engage policy makers, have an active and yet a positive contribution to the future policies.

This critical season has also challenged our ability to exercise the freedom of speech entrusted to all Ugandans by the government. Therefore, it is evident that there is also need to re-think on the nature of topics that can be handled for discussions on social space as well as the areas where our opinions matter.

Because regulation starts at the individual level, as a professional regulatory body, entrusted with the role to regulate nursing and midwifery in Uganda, we call upon all of you to self-regulate in this critical moment when 4

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services at all levels have been constrained. Also remember to always be your brothers’ keeper, a role provided to you by the professional code of conduct. To Love and Serve for a better Profession!

In conclusion, we appeal to all of you to continue observing the Covid-19 regulations and standard operating procedures for your own and public safety as we go into the festive season. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy 2022.

Yours Sincerely, Angelah Ilakut Outgoing Registrar, UNMC Tel: 0782836159, Email: Ilakut.angelah@unmc.ug, angelahilakut11@gmail.com

Instead of a Happy New Year, we are opting for a Happy New Every Day! A year is simply too long!

We encourage you to explore our practical strategies for sustaining mental health well-being one month at a time—see pages 7 and 10.

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A MESSAGE FROM MS. KETTY LAMARO, THE PERMANENT SECRETARY MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SPORTS On behalf of the Ministry of Education and Sports and on my own behalf, I greet you all. I have been briefed about this newsletter, I am informed that it’s an innovation by the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Think Tank to improve communication and sharing among nurses, midwives, health professionals and the public. Allow me to thank Uganda Nurses and Midwives Think Tank for this innovation and other strategies in place to improve health service delivery as well as upscale advocacy for the nursing and midwifery profession.

Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) is mandated to educate and train competent and quality human resources for the health sector.

The Ministry carries out its mandate in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the professional councils, and various providers at all levels of Health Services delivery. May I therefore register my appreciation to all nurses and midwives for your service to humanity and especially for acting as preceptors and tutors to the nursing and midwifery students.

I have been made aware that nursing education started at Mengo Hospital by training midwives at the lowest level of nursing. I have also been informed that this education has been upgraded from certificates to diplomas and now we have universities that offer bachelor and master’s degrees in nursing and midwifery. And that some nurses and midwives have attained Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing or other fields. The Ministry will continue with its collaboration with the health sector to ensure coordinated, labour-market responsive production of skilled, high-quality, health workers who are responsive to the national needs and are competitive at international levels.

The Ministry of Education and Sports is aware of the very few specialized nurses and midwives both at technical and master’s level of practice. We are working with the Ministry of Health and the National Planning Authority to ensure we produce specialized nurses and midwives to match the identified needs such as critical care, oncology, cardiology, neonatology, palliative care, public health and others. We are committed to improved health outcomes as a result of properly trained nurses and midwives. We are also aware of some challenges that have existed between training and absorption of trained cadres which may cause frustration within the trained cadres.

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Through the inter-ministerial Standing Coordination Committee and dialogue with you, we should be able to overcome these challenges.

Finally, allow me that thank the health sector for the great work in managing the 1st and 2nd wave of the Covid19 Pandemic and also in supporting the vaccination drive for Ugandans especially the teachers and students, thank you. As Health Training Institutions were opened in August 2021, and other institutions of higher learning opened in November 2021, I urge all nurses and midwives working in training institutions to become even more vigilant, work with the district task forces to report any cases that may arise, take up vaccination and continue to observe SOPS.

Covid 19 has underscored the need for us to embrace technology in everything we do and also ensure that there is continuity of quality and safe training of health professionals. I therefore, urge all nurses and midwives to adapt the new normal in light of COVID 19 to ensure that every nurse and midwife that qualifies has the required competencies for practice. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Prosperous 2022

For God and My Country Ms. Ketty Lamaro PS, Ministry of Education and Sports

Happy One New Day at a Time

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MOTHERHOOD, LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND Article as published in New Vision October 28 2021 Re-printed with permission from the author: Mr. Martin Lubega Pregnancy and childbirth are special events in every woman’s life, and, indeed, in the lives of their families. To many, these may be moments full of hope, excitement and joyful anticipation. However, this can also be a time of fear, suffering and even death for many women and newborns. We must be reminded that pregnancy is a normal stage for every woman, not a disease although it is associated with a number of risks that threaten the health and life of both the woman and the unborn baby.

These risks exist in every society and in every setting. In the developed countries the risks have been largely overcome by ensuring that every pregnant woman has access to quality health care services during pregnancy and childbirth.

Such is not the case in many of our developing countries including Uganda where pregnancy continues to end the lives of many women across the country while others walk through with serious morbidities affecting their physical and sociocultural functionality. Over years, Uganda has registered great milestones in creating a health care system that is responsive to the health care needs of women and children based on the six core pillars of safe motherhood. These include Family planning, antenatal care, obstetric care, post-natal care, post-abortion care and control of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. The government of Uganda and its development partners have invested resources in improving access to quality maternal and child health care services for all women all throughout pregnancy as a strategy to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is worth noting that between 1971 and 1986, Uganda’s health care system suffered unprecedented setbacks due to poor leadership and internal conflicts.

Therefore, the NRM government inherited and embarked on rebuilding a shattered health care system. For example, by 1988, Only 37% of pregnant women would deliver at health facilities; 3% of the women were using modern family planning methods; only 38% of children received full immunization and the maternal mortality was at 527death for every100,000 live births.

Despite the existing challenges in the health sector today, there is free access to basic and emergency maternal and child health care services in public health facilities across the country. The maternal and child health indicators have also greatly improved. For example, by 2016, over 73% of the women were having deliveries from health facilities, under-skilled health workers, the childhood immunization coverage is reported at 99%, over 35% of the women are using modern family planning methods and the maternal deaths have gone down to 336 deaths per 100,000 live births.

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The routine countrywide distribution of mosquito nets has also greatly reduced the number of maternal deaths due to malaria in pregnancy.

Access to maternal and child health services has also greatly increased due to newly constructed health facilities across the country. Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital that provides high specialized maternal and child health care services is one of those magnificent achievements of the government in its efforts to promote Safe motherhood in the country.

Yes, as a country, we have registered all this progress, but we still fall short of our expectations and targets as stated in the recent National Health Sector Strategic plans. A lot ought to be done to boost the quality of services in these health facilities.

On many occasions, there are outcries of stockouts of essential medicines and supplies resulting into delays in providing care. These shortages and understaffing of midwives and doctors across the country must be addressed to ensure equitable care for all women across the country.

The biggest proportion of the skilled birth attendants are concentrated in the urban areas, yet the biggest percentage of the country’s population lives in rural areas. Who is there for such mothers?

We must act now. Many facilities across the country do not have ambulances to effect timely referrals and this has resulted in maternal deaths. This year’s theme citing “leaving no one behind” ignites us to think about those women in the hard-to-reach districts, those districts without district hospitals that can provide immediate emergency obstetric care when needed, those women on the Kalangala islands that have to wait for the common ferry to access referral services from health facilities in Masaka and Wakiso districts.

It’s so exciting to learn about the government’s plan to introduce the Parish Model for economic development.

How about if we thought of something similar to improve maternal and child health services in the country.

Communities play a very important role in their own health promotion thus the need to empower them to implement primary health care services like immunization, antenatal care, family planning and promotion of utilization of basic maternal health services and health facility deliveries.

Our Village Health Teams (VHTs) should be empowered to provide basic services and to initiate referrals from communities to health facilities by building stronger partnerships between VHTs and other health workers and regularly providing them with supplies and transportation allowances.

The raising number of teenage pregnancies amidst this COVID 19 pandemic poses yet another challenge in attainment of safe motherhood. This calls for own action to provide youth friendly sexual and reproductive health education and to promote contraception use in this age group.

Many of the teenage mothers still face untold stigmatization that they can’t even come out to access antenatal care services for fear being ridiculed.

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Teenage mothers form a very vulnerable group. Thus, they need to be supported throughout pregnancy to ensure that complications are prevented and if they existed are identified and managed on time. Stigmatising them only makes the condition worse.

Knowing that blood loss is one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in our country, it’s worth noting that blood donations have significantly gone down during the pandemic. Students from various schools have always made up the biggest group of blood donors. Blood donation campaigns have been affected; this demands us all to act now.

We are all encouraged to donate blood whenever possible to save those mothers that continue to die due to blood loss. A few drops of that precious fluid may be the only thing holding us from the subsequent maternal death.

The need to empower our midwives and doctors to offer respectful maternity care can’t be over-emphasized.

Safe motherhood services should be grounded on the principle of confidentiality, privacy, respect and dignified care. Indeed, each one of us has a role to play to promote safe motherhood, leaving now behind. Let’s act now.

The writer is Martin Lubega, BSc Nurse and the author of “My Pregnancy, A Pregnancy guide for all women”

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Find three things to look forward to this year

Make time today to do something kind for yourself 9

3 Do a kind act for someone else to help brighten their day 10

4 Write a list of things you feel grateful for and why 11

5 Look for the good in others and notice their strengths 12

6 Take five minutes to sit still and just breath 13

Say positive things to the people you meet today

Get moving. Do something active (ideally outdoors)

Thank someone you're grateful to and tell them why

Switch off all your tech at least an hour before bedtime

Connect with someone

Take a different route today and see what you notice

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Get outside and notice five things that are beautiful

Contribute positively to your local community

22 Plan something fun and invite others to join you

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Be gentle with yourself when you make mistakes 24

7 Learn something new and share it with others 14 Eat healthy food which really nourished you today 21 Try out something new to get out of your comfort zone 28 Ask other people about things they have enjoyed recently

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29 Say hello to a neighbor and get to know them better

Put away digital device and focus on being in the moment 30 See how many people you can smile at today

Take a small step towards an important goal

Get back in contact with an old friend

near you--share a smile or a chat 19 Focus on what's good, even if today feels rough

20 Go to bed in good time and allow yourself to recharge

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Decide to lift people up rather than put them down

Choose one of your strengths and find a way to use it today

Challenge your negative thoughts and look for upside

31 Write down your hopes or plans for the future

Humanity faces a pandemic every hundred years, so this current pandemic was already an expected historic event. Now that we are all learning to live in the new "normal", when things are feeling a bit tough, this " Action for Happiness" can help us to set some goals.

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Happier. Kinder. Together

SATURDAY

ACTIONS FOR HAPPINESS.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FROM HAPPIER JANUARY 2022

Daily actions to help you make yourself and others happier. (Happier January, 2021)

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Making achievable goals and ensuring that you have a few short-term and longer-term- and goals or more ambitious goals helps us feel we're making progress. It doesn't matter if your goal for the day is something minimal; the important thing is to allow yourself to feel like you've achieved something and celebrate that! This calendar is full of ideas to help you think about putting this into practice.

Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society. We want to see a fundamentally different way of life - where people care less about what they can get just for themselves and more about the happiness of others. aka Ubuntu. Food for thought by Elizabeth Pearson

UPDATES The Ministry of Health held the 2021 Heroes In Health Awards on November 12 2021. Among the winners are: from left: Andrew Kamau, who won in the Category of Covid Responder of the Year; Lillian Nuwabaine won the Midwife of the Year Award; Martin Lubega won the Nurse of the Year Award, and Harriet Nayiga won the Community Innovations Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to none other than Sr. Christine Otai of

Kiwoko Hospital, Uganda (See story next page), Congratulations to the impressive nurses and midwives.

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CHRISTINE OTAI: WINNER: HIHA2021 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Christine looks after premature newborn with Kangaroo Mother Care. Photo by Jonathan Torgovnik.

If there is anyone who deserves this award, it is Christine Otai. We looked up a few things that others have said about her work. In 2014, Debrah Lester, a clinician with 25 years of experience in the field of Maternal and Child Health called Christine a champion for Change. In her blog, Lester wrote: Sister Christine Otai is the manager of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Maternity departments at Kiwoko Hospital. She has worked at Kiwoko since 1989. The NICU at Kiwoko treats over 750 premature and sick infants, and the maternity ward delivers more than 2,000 babies annually. Christine attends to high-risk deliveries. She utilizes resuscitation techniques, stabilization and safe transfer of newborn infants. She supports initiation of treatment, including complicated intensive therapy in accordance with the agreed guidelines and protocols. Christine guides student nurses practicing in the NICU and Maternity ward, building their confidence and competence in infant and maternal care. She is a qualified trainer in neonatal resuscitation and has been directly involved in the training of over 500 staff, all of whom have the essential skills to impact the first critical moments in an infant’s life. Also under her guidance, Kangaroo Mother Care and other neonatal health interventions have been rolled out at the hospital, with a noticeable reduction in complications for low-birth-weight infants. Just eight years ago, babies weighing 1.0-1.4kg had only a 31% chance of survival. Today, thanks to expert care from Kiwoko staff under Christine’s leadership, these tiny babies now have an 86% chance of survival.

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Christine has also been a driving force, and primary trainer for the implementation of the Community Based Healthcare program. The program trains local volunteers to check for warning signs of complications for the newborn and in pregnancy and to refer women to health facilities if medical aid is needed. These volunteers provide education on childbirth to women in the community, reaching 44 villages in the area surrounding Kiwoko Hospital.

Christine is knowledgeable on every patient who comes into the wards, their family, their specific needs, and with limited resources, does everything to ensure they receive the best care possible. It is Christine’s drive and compassion that pushes her staff and peers to excel, and to never give up and to keep learning. Source (Christine’s Story: A Champion for Change, 2014 available here) “Sr. Christine Otai is one of the fiercest and most incredible women I’ve ever met. She’s a real hero of development and has single-handedly saves thousands of premature babies” (says Madeline Vaughan, from Adara Development) The NMLTT congratulations Sr. Christine Otai for her outstanding leadership and for this lifetime achievement award. Ver well deserved.

In Other News Dr Safina Museene, Commissioner for Health Education and Training and PS Dr Atwine and their teams monitor nursing schools after the 2nd reopening in Soroti to assess adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures for the prevention of Covid-19.

Special Open Dialogue with Nurses and Midwives, Nov 29th, 2021 One of the key roles of the NMLTT is to create spaces for open dialog on critical issues impacting the nurses and midwives’ workforce in Uganda. These spaces allow us to think together, to critic together and to coconstruct solutions and strategies together.

On November 29th, the NMLTT leaders held a dialogue with nurses and midwives to discuss issues affecting nurses over the past few weeks. These included concerns from Comprehensive Nurses regarding protentional policy changes that could have impact on their employability in the health sector, as well as emerging concerns regarding reported overcrowding during the upcountry registration process.

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This meeting brought together over 200 nurses and midwives who shared openly with nurse leaders on all issues affecting them. The meeting was presided over by Nurse leaders such as Dr Safinah Museene, Commissioner for Health Education and Training as well as Ms Angella Ilakut, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council answered these questions.

Key issues arising from this meeting have been forwarded to the respective professional bodies for follow up and action. The Think Tank Thanks to all Nurses and Midwives who took part in this dialogue.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The NMLTT wishes to congratulate the following nurse and midwife leaders on their recent achievements.

Nurse Martin Lubega - an aspiring young nurse and author who will be joining the editing team for this newsletter from January 2022 Ms. Irene Atuhairwe, one of the editors for the Newsletter, appointed as the Country Director for Seed Global Health. Read a recent interview here, where she narrates her journey.

Sr. Beatrice Amuge recognised for her outstanding contribution to health service delivery in 2020/2021.

Dr. Museene Safina, recognised for Outstanding contribution to Health Professionals’ Education and being the first Commissioner for health education and training

by Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery.

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WEBINAR CONFERENCE Although Nursing is one of the most essential and trusted professions globally, it still struggles to convey its contribution to improving its health and well-being. This causes a continuous struggle to attract enough people to consider it a career. The 3rd annual gathering of nurses and midwives two-day virtual conference held on 26th and 27th August 2021 under the theme:Legacy and Leadership - the importance of History in Nursing, raised the profile of nursing and helped more people understand the nurses' contribution to improving the nation’s health. Over 300 participants attended it, and it highlighted the Nurses and Midwife pioneer leaders in Uganda (those who shaped the Nursing and Midwifery fraternity into what it is now, in their respective areas of expertise. i.e. research, nursing practice, midwifery, clinical practice, and education before 1993). The Burdett Trust of Nursing supported the webinar conference hosted by National Health Care Conference NHCC. It met the objectives of considering the importance of legacy in developing a profession. Participants were able to reflect on the lessons of pioneering nurses’ lived experiences, including Dr Joan Myers, CBE QN, Professor Greta Westwood CBE, Chief Executive Officer CEO of Florence Nightingale Foundation FNF, Lisa Rodrigues Vice-Chair Mary Seacole Trust, Mrs Specioza Mbabali, Mrs Jemimah Mutabaazi.

NHCC, in partnership with ECC, with support from the Burdett Trust for Nursing, delivered Basic Life Support training for Nurses and Midwives. This is a mandatory training course for healthcare and social care professionals in some counties like the UK. This training course was developed to meet the required learning outcomes for Nurses and Midwives who are usually the first point of contact following a referral to a secondary care setting. Yet, they are expected to deliver this immediate care. Resuscitation Council (UK) 2015 guidelines require that all health care professionals update their BLS annually. The first cohort of 15 learners from 5 RRHs, received certificates recognised by the EU and are valid for three years. NHCC is creating a network of champions.

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RESOURCE LIST FOR NURSES AND MIDWIVES Please find below a list of useful contacts to forward your concerns appropriately.

UNMC queries:- info@unmc.ug UNMU:- info@unmu.ug CPD APP concerns: martin@unmc.ug National organisations Education and training Standards:- Department of Nursing at Ministry of Health Health Education and Training (Min of Education and sports) QUESTIONS? CALL: 0417 893600 (PRO) Mobile 0777108170 Some of the associations AGNMU: graduates@agnmu.org Critical Care Association:president@ccnau.org Midwifery Association: nationalmidwivesassociationug@gmail.com Nursing and Midwives Society: info@nursesandmidwivessociety.org Emergency Care society of Uganda:- admin@ecsuganda.org Palliative care Association of Uganda:- pxau.admin@pcau.org.ug Others NMLTT (Think - Tank Leaders):- uganursemidwife.leaders@gmail.com Writing articles for publication on NHCC Uganda website:- editors.nhccuganda@gmail.com Global networking Nursing Now Campaign Uganda:- nursingnowuganda@gmail.com

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND ACADEMIC RESOURCES Access to Health Care journals (Discounted at 30%) In partnership with UGANDA NURSES and MIDWIVES ASSOCIATION UK (UNMA-UK), Markallen group UK (https://www.markallengroup.com/ma-healthcare/) has offered a 30% discount on their online subscriptions (MA Healthcare titles only) for UNMA-UK members. This has also been extended to Nurses and Midwives in Uganda as per UNMA-UK mission.

Use the confirmed discount code [UNBA30] to access a range of their healthcare journals.

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NMLTT ON GOING ACTIVITIES NMLTT continues to work in collaboration with the National Task Force in the Management of COVID- 19.

The Think Tank Newsletter editing team accepts articles on a rolling basis under the sub themes below.

• • • • •

Research and Innovation Continuing Professional development (CPD) Policy Leadership/Governance Clinical Practice Covid-19 Response.

The Think Tank will resume the regular meetings soon to check on progress and formulate strategies to support and advocate for Nurses and Midwives. We would like to thank Seed Global Health for the continued support for hosting our zoom meetings and webinars. We urge all nurse leaders to attend the meetings. Please send us your current email address in order to be included in a timely manner.

Our faith in you is steadfast. May you continue to rise up to the challenge in this International Year of the Health Care Worker by WHO - 2021. More than ever, this nation needs you. We thank you and May God bless you.

Copy to:

The Hon Minister for Health The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health The Ministry of Education and Sports The Chairperson, NATIONAL TASK FORCE COVID 19 The President of Uganda Medical Association Commissioner Nursing Services, Ministry of Health All Nurses and Midwives in Uganda

Compiled and Edited by Think Tank Debrief Team on behalf of NMLTT: Dr Rose Clarke Nanyonga, Elizabeth Pearson, Irene Atuhairwe, Tracy Kobukindo, Judith Hope Kiconco, and Mr. Martin Lubega. Chairperson: Dr. Safinah Kisu Museene Informed disclaimer: - All editing team members are Nurses, and they are all volunteering their time and expertise. However, the views expressed in the articles are of the authors or writers solely. Although the editing team does the very best and is responsible for vetting the information, the authors’ opinions remain. It is, therefore, upon the authors to make sure that what they submit is referenced appropriately and accurately.

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