The radio talk show on Akwenda cerebral palsy programme was aired out on 90.6 Busoga one station which is based in Jinja city. The shows were aired out on three different dates of the week i.e. 28th September, 5th & 12th /10/2021 from 8:00pm – 9:00pm. Attended by Dr.Angelina, Eric and Godfrey. The main reason was to inform people about the akwenda programme and how it was going to be carried out in the districts of Iganga and Mayuge respectively.
The radio talk show was a great success as the listeners appreciated the programme and kept asking when it will roll out to other parts of Busoga region mostly Buyende, Kamuli, Luuka and kaliro districts. The programme was well moderated and we were given a lot of time to talk about akwenda cerebral palsy programme for instance the first talk show, there was very limited time for the listeners to call in and give feedback. This was however different for the other two as the time was well balanced to equally allow and respond to the questions that were asked by the listeners – that were adequately responded to.
From the talk show, there was an indication that there was a knowledge gap as many of the people did not know what cerebral palsy is, causes and risks and also showed the need for more stakeholder support so as to address the critical needs of children with cerebral palsy, intensify on sensitization efforts for the caregivers, children and the communities in general. Nonetheless, at the end of it all, people got knowledge about it – as evidenced by the calls and concerns of when it would reach their respective districts.
On when the akwenda programme would cover the other districts, the CURIE team, ably explained that it’s a pilot project hoped that if all goes well, then it could roll to other parts of the country.
The talk show was a great success since many people called from different parts of Busoga.
We appreciate Busoga one radio for the airtime that enabled us reach out to many Ugandans and we hope the message was of great impact to them.
The Radio talk show on akwenda was a success. It was well planned – in that setting a specific day and time i.e. (a Tuesday and at 8:00pm) also was a plus on the side of the audience to properly plan on their side.
We also believe that radio still have a huge audience in rural Uganda as a major mode of communication and we appreciate the Akwenda team for going through withit
We extend our sincere gratitude to team akwenda for the endless support towards the talk show.
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An inventive and dynamic communications person with three years experience, with high impact internal and external communications for diverse audiences.
Dedicated to unitizing knowledge of social media communications to manage online impressions and produce relevant content.
Namaganda Lukia Hamid is a specialist in Public Health, with a strong focus on epidemiology and research methodologies. She obtained her PhD in Public Health from the Makerere University School of Public Health, where she also completed her Master of Public Health (MPH) and Bachelor of Environmental Health Science (BEHS) degrees. Her research primarily investigates health disparities affecting children and adolescents with disabilities, as well as issues related to injury-related disabilities, rehabilitation, and community living. Dr. Namaganda has contributed to esteemed international journals with her research findings and is proficient in academic writing. Furthermore, Dr. Hamid is an active member of the Research Ethics Review Board at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), where she plays a vital role in ensuring the adherence to and advancement of ethical standards in research.
He is a qualified physiotherapist with notable experience in pediatric rehabilitation spanning over five years. He has been involved with the Akwenda intervention program at Makerere University School of Public Health, where he served as a trainer for both therapists and parents/caregivers who aimed to become facilitators or trainers themselves. He continues to engage with parents at Pro-Uganda: New Life Orthopaedic Centre in Mukono.
Is a human resources graduate who is enthusiastic about engaging with individuals and fostering organizational growth.
He is a dedicated professional social worker with a strong commitment to advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities, a field in which he has accumulated over seven years of valuable experience in community-based rehabilitation. He has served as a Community-Based Rehabilitation Officer for the Akwenda intervention program affiliated with Makerere University School of Public Health, where he created a communication and advocacy component, led various communication and advocacy sessions, and also co-authored. http://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16258. Which was developed and validated to evaluate the involvement of children with disabilities at both family and community levels. Additionally, he worked as a social worker with Ekisa Ministries and Children’s Home, where he championed the rights of children with disabilities, initiated community center outreach programs that allowed children with disabilities and their caregivers to access physiotherapy services and facilitate family reunification. He has also held positions as a field officer with BUVAD (Butakola Village Development Association), worked with Busia Youth and Children’s Ministries Uganda, and was a research assistant at World Vision. Throughout all these roles, he has consistently focused on advocacy, promotion of rights, empowerment and capacity building to help communities lead dignified and meaningful lives. Furthermore, he has received additional training in child protection from UNICEF, completed the Beyond Suffering program from Africa Renewable University, studied paper technology, obtained Good Clinical Practice certification from the NIDA Trial Network, participated in an Entrepreneurship and Business Skills program through Enterprise Uganda, and attended a Parenting Class at Abide Family Center.
Is a nursing officer by profession with 8 years of experience working at Jinja National Referral Hospital in the pediatric ward, where she addresses early childhood complications and congenital abnormalities. Her additional responsibilities include performing phlebotomy and aseptic sample collection, managing early childhood illnesses, and conducting emergency triage. She salso assits in resuscitating infants and managing burns, sickle cell crises, as well as anemia. Additionally, she provides care for severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition.
She is a public health expert and clinical researcher with 12 years of experience in HIV/AIDS care and treatment, clinical research, and is currently employed as a health consultant with BDO East Africa, working under the Office of the Prime Minister to evaluate local government performance. Presently, she is pursuing her PhD in Public Health at JOOUST University in Kenya, supported by the East African Scholarship. In addition, she holds a postgraduate diploma in Global Health, and her aspiration is to achieve good health for all, driven by her passion for humanity; her motto is “One Health, One World.” She draws inspiration from individuals who consistently persevere. Her areas of expertise include *TB Clinical Management *Quality Improvement *Accurate Data Documentation *Program Management *Health System Strengthening *
Dr. Gillian Saloojee is a pediatric physiotherapist who focuses on assisting children and young adults with disabilities and their families in rural, under-resourced African environments. She founded and previously served as the Executive Director of Malamulele Onward, a non-profit organization that offers therapy services and training for caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in impoverished rural areas of Southern Africa. She is presently engaged in various research initiatives aimed at children and youth with disabilities in low-resource settings and acts as an early intervention consultant for UNICEF.
Hans Forssberg serves as a Professor of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet and is a Consultant in Neuropaediatrics at Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. He played a key role in establishing the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability and has held the position of its inaugural president. He has previously chaired the European Academy of Childhood Disability, served as dean, and was vice president of Karolinska Institutet; he has also been a member of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine.
His studies have concentrated on children who experience neurodevelopmental disorders; covering translational research related to the mechanisms behind motor and cognitive impairments, as well as clinical research focused on creating innovative methods for assessment and intervention. In recent years, he has redirected his attention towards research on the global health of children with disabilities, especially in low- and middle-income nations. He has authored approximately 250 original research papers and ranks among the most cited global authorities on neurodevelopmental disorders (over 36,500 citations; h-index=86; Google Scholar). Currently, he serves as an expert adviser to UNICEF on a project that aims to formulate, execute, and assess global recommendations for the universal early identification and intervention for children experiencing developmental delays and disabilities, specifically intended for implementation in resource-limited environments.
He is a qualified Physiotherapist and serves as the Director of Agape Rehabilitation Initiative Uganda, driven by a commitment to help others in every manner that God allows him to. His experience includes working at Cure Hospital, Ekisa Ministries and Children’s Home, Kagando Mission Hospital, and Sports Club Villa. Additionally, he has received training in trauma healing, paper technology, and holds a certificate as a trainer of trainers for pastors and leaders in biblical studies.
He is a professional social worker committed to utilizing opportunities and resources to provide servant leadership and transformational services, emphasizing child well-being and community development. Currently, he holds the position of Project Director at the Vumgbala Child Development Centre, a Compassion-assisted initiative in Moyo district. He has previously worked as a program officer for Initiative for Peace and Development Uganda, a community facilitator for the Water School Busia Project, and a child sponsorship development assistant at World Vision in Busia area program. He has also received additional training in monitoring and evaluation and education.
