By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer, Lira University
Lira University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng has lauded the management of the Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT) of the University of Michigan for the support to Gulu and Lira Universities in healthcare training, equipment supplies and infrastructure development.
“Indeed, we are humbled and grateful to CIRHT for the strong and powerful partnership. This collaboration and support has boosted our efforts in transforming sexual reproductive health services through training and research,” Prof. Ogwal Okeng said. He was addressing the 1st Gulu and Lira Universities Annual Scientific Symposium held at Bomah Hotel, Gulu City on 24th August 2023.The 2-day symposium was supported by the Centre for the International Reproductive Health Training –Africa and CIRHT-University of Michigan.
Prof. Ogwal Okeng underscored the role of the University in transforming and facilitating health care services to communities, adding that maternal and child health has been a challenge in Africa. He also commended the Principal Investigators from the two Universities for attracting funders through research undertaken.
Anna Grace Auma, the Principal Investigator, Lira University, hailed the Centre for the International Reproductive Health Training –Africa and CIRHT-University of Michigan for the support. “Your support today has yielded results, we therefore wish to convey our heartfelt gratitude,” She said. She adds, “This has been a very committed and successful collaboration so far and we hope for more collaborations in the future.”
Several research findings were presented during the symposium. They included the following: “Expressed perception of in-school adolescents towards comprehensive sexuality education pedagogy: A case study in selected Primary schools of Ethiopia and Uganda”, presented by Siyane Aniley Amentie’, “Utilisation of modern contraceptives and associated factors among HIV positive women of pre-reproductive age attending ART clinic in Lacor Hospital, Gulu”, presented by Judith Praisielyn Acayo.
Others are “Knowledge and perceptions of men on vasectomy in the rural District of Otuke: A cross-sectional study”, presented by Anna Grace Auma, Lira University, and “Dual contraceptive use and associated factors among female sex workers in Gulu City, Uganda in 2023”, presented by Dr Felix Bongomin, Gulu University, as Amir Kabunga from Lira University presented a research report titled, “A Qualitative study on stigma as a barrier to emergency contraceptive pill use among university students in the Lango sub-region, Uganda.”
The symposium attracted several dignitaries from Ministry of Health, Lira and Gulu Universities, Local Governments, Regional Health facilities and Non-Governmental Organisations.
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