Continuity in a Community Health and Development Project in Uganda - 25 Years and Counting

Professional nursing is the backbone of healthcare worldwide. Where nursing has not been recognized as a profession with its own knowledge and responsibilities to the public, healthcare has been affected. Bethel University and Uganda Christian University (UCUJ) have collaborated and joined forced to create academic programs in a rich Christian context to create well prepared nurses for the future of Uganda. Our partnership first created a degree completion program and currently the focus is on preparing nurse leaders at the masters’ level. This partnership has benefited both programs. A large number of Bethel University undergraduate senior nursing students spend January in Uganda, in the future some will spent a semester at UCU. Recently Masters’ student from UCU spent 10 weeks at Bethel’s campus. They took a combined class on Global Health with Bethel students. Bethel students reported the significant contribution of the UCU students to their learning. A number of Bethel faculty (and a few from elsewhere) are involved in teaching in the masters’ program taught modularly and online. This collaboration is empowering nurse leaders (particularly nurse educators) to advance the profession of nursing in Uganda. We hope to draw students from other parts of Africa to join in the masters’ program.

The enterprise of medical missions has brought health and opened the doors for the gospel in countless countries. This rich history continues today. In Africa, 40-70% of health services are still provided by church and mission facilities. How do we build on the achievements of yesteryears and achieve success in the years to come? How can you fit in?