Students on Placement in Uganda

17 students from the School of Nursing & Midwifery travelled to Uganda this summer, to undertake placements facilitated by Nurture Africa, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that runs a summer volunteer placement programme for health sciences, allied health sciences and education students. 

The placements take place in outreach clinics which focus on delivering HIV healthcare, paediatric primary healthcare, and maternal and child healthcare. 

The students can use their placement from this experience to fulfil their Global Health Engagement elective module, which is open to all 2nd and 3rd year nursing and midwifery students. 

Pictured: Students receiving training on HIV testing at the Nurture Africa clinic before they go out to conduct the testing in outreach clinics.

Academic link, Dr Eleanor Hollywood, visited the students in Uganda while they were undergoing orientation and starting their volunteer placement, and said: “This volunteer placement provides our nursing and midwifery students with a unique opportunity to increase their understanding of international development and healthcare delivery in Uganda. It also affords students a chance to use their skills to support the ongoing work of Nurture Africa and to immerse themselves in the day-to-day life of a healthcare professional working in Nansana, Uganda.”

Pictured: Meeting nursing students and the volunteer placement co-ordinators in Nansana, Uganda

Dr Hollywood also had the opportunity to meet with Orla, an MSc student currently completing research evaluating the effectiveness of the PAIRS (Paediatric Assessment of Illness, Recognition and Stabilisation) programme at Nurture Africa in Uganda, which is undertaken by healthcare professionals at the clinic.

Pictured: Stuart (PI in Uganda), Eleanor (PI in Ireland) and Orla (TCD MSc student)