Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the University of Illinois (UI) signed a Memorandum (MoU) of Understanding in 2020 with many potential areas of engagement. The first flagship program was to engage the UI medical students taking the Equity Medicine Innovation program in the innovation pathway of Consortium for Affordable Medical Technologies (CAMTech) Uganda.
According to Ms. Nuriat Nambogo the Research and Grants Manager at CAMTech Uganda, this year, the UI sent ten (10) third-year medical students who came along with three (3) faculty members to be supported through the CAMTech Innovation Pathway in addressing challenges in fracture management, mobility in rehabilitation and adherence to diabetic treatment.
She further described that the team has been at MUST since 12th February 2023 being guided to put together concepts that explain the problem, the proposed innovative solution, the commercial viability, team, and partnership sections, and also engaging health workers as the end users.
The UI students were divided into three groups each addressing a specific health challenge which included;
- Cheris Wheelchair Kits: This is aimed at ensuring that people with physical disabilities have reliable, easy, and relatively independent movement and have access to a low-cost wheelchair that is suitable to their unique needs.
- DART (Diabetes Accessible and Resourceful Testing): DART is a mobile application that will be utilized by Village Health Teams (VHTs) to record glucometer readings for patients within their jurisdiction to reduce the number of clinic visits needed simply for testing. VHTs are to be equipped with glucometers, strips, and lancets that will serve as testers for patients that reside within their villages.
- PolyWeave (An Alternative to traditional plaster of Paris Casts): PolyWeave is an orthopedic cast that consists of a woven sisal straw base reinforced with a polyurethane resin, which polymerizes when activated with water. This will allow all patients with fractures to receive timely, accessible, and definitive management
On Wednesday 22nd February 2023, these concepts were presented to experts in a Project Qualification Review (PQR) exercise.
The projects were conducted under the guidance of Dr. Data Santorino, Mr. Mukama Martin, Ms. Angela O’Bryant, and Ms. Nuriat Nambogo, Dr. Sarah De Ramirez Dr. Mary Stapel. Other project coordinators included: Ms. Sharon Ashaba, Mr. Brian Kamukama, and Mr. Ivan IIemut at CAMTech, , and Erica Litzsey at UICOMP.
The students from UI expressed gratitude to MUST, CAMTech Uganda for contributing their time, insight, and resources to make their stay in Uganda a success.
The judges included: Mr. Peter Nuwagira, Pharmacy department Mr. Rogers Mwavu Faculty of Computing and Informatics (FCI, Dr. Kisitu Kyengela, department of Surgery Dr. Sarah Nabachwa Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Mr. Harman Kaziibwe, Department of Physiotherapy, Dr. Simon Kawuma FCI, Dr. Andrew Mutekanga department of Internal Medicine and Dr. Martin Bukenya a public health specialist who was the overall observer.
The Thereafter UI team had a dinner with CAMTech and MUST staff members at Emburara Farm Lodge where they were wished journey mercies back to USA.