UGANDA: Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)
Transforming NPHI capacity through collaboration & partnerships
In Uganda, as in many countries, public health activities of national importance are conducted by a variety of groups, sometimes with little coordination. Creating a comprehensive national public health institute in these countries requires planning, linkages, and partnerships at several levels to improve and protect health.
Within Uganda, UVRI is one of several institutions with public health functions. For years, UVRI withered in the shadow of better-resourced public health players in the country. A small infusion of IANPHI resources and expert consultation through an IANPH capacity-building grant has re-energized staff and yielded a "new partnership spirit" among core UVRI divisions and on-campus programs such as CDC-Uganda and IAVI. Already, these partnerships are strengthening many of the ongoing project activities -- e.g., collaborative strategic planning exercises and training initiatives, joint explorations for grant opportunities, and strengthened IT functions.
In short course, the operational improvements positioned UVRI for an essential role in the international response to a challenging outbreak of a new strain of Ebola virus during the last weeks of 2007.
Boosting research capacity in rotavirus epidemiology
Through an IANPHI research seed grant, UVRI is conducting a 2-year study on the prevalence and strains of rotavirus in children aged <5 years. Results will inform decisions of Ministry of Health and the National Drug Authority on the licensing and introduction of rotavirus vaccine in Uganda.
Back »