Morris Okwir - GFMER Coordinator for Uganda

Morris Okwir

GFMER Coordinator for Uganda

Morris Okwir, PGD PPM, Bsc HSM, DCN
National Project Officer in Health Department with African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) Uganda
E-mail: morrisokwir@rocketmail.com

Morris is a self motivated, hard working, innovative, confident and result oriented person with ability to interact with people of various category and work beat tight schedules with minimum supervision in a dynamic environment.

Objectives

To participate in the improvement of the quality of life of communities by contributing new knowledge particularly in the field of capacity building and health research that will enable policy makers and health managers to design evidence based health interventions that will strengthen the professional delivery of quality service to the community.

Morris Okwir is the holder of PGD PPM, Bsc HSM, DCN, and National Project Officer in Health department with African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) Uganda.

Other trainings

Certificate on antiretroviral therapy for Adult and pediatrics clinical care in resource limited settings at Mild may International Study Centre, 3rd to 8th April 2006.
Certificate of Disaster response by United States Army Medical Experts, 28th August 2002.
Certificate of Basic Life support and First Aid Medical Training United States Army Medical Experts, 22nd to 24th August 2002.
Certificate as trainer of trainees on Communication for social and Behavior Change organized by UNICEF with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 13th -17th August 2007.

Morris Okwir is currently a student of International Health Sciences University in Uganda studying Masters in Public Health.

Morris join GFMER to contribute to the enhancement of knowledge and practices of Health Practitioners from Uganda in area of Sexual Reproductive Health through Training, Research, Collaboration with National and International Organizations while advocating for and Disseminating Reproductive Health information so that they are able to actively participate and strengthen Reproductive Health of the population in Uganda.

He was among the first set of the GFMER’s 6 Months Online Sexual Reproductive Health Course ; From Research to Practice in 2011 and was among the 10 best participants that attended the face to face research methodology course in Geneva in August 2012.

Personal skills and competence

Morris has training Skills developed through the conduct of tutorials and organization of ongoing education sessions for a broad spectrum of medical professionals and para-medical staff. Provision of medical training in diverse topics to medical professionals and other stake holders involved in program design and management with high degree of Program Management Skills including resource and procurement management skills, task prioritization, program design, staff supervision, and leadership. More experience in the planning and coordination of activities, including the preparation of team meetings, supervision and writing project reports.

He further has excellence driven public health/nursing professional with more than eight years experience in the healthcare industry. He is a registered Nurse and innovative in his thinking, with experience in community based initiatives with participatory health communications and has led the development and implementation of prevention/control program elements for a broad range of healthcare issues that includes Adolescent sexual reproductive Health and Rights, HIV/AIDS/STIs, Substance Abuse, Maternal and Child Health, School Health, and Tuberculosis. He is a Nursing graduate with extensive experience in WASH Program, HIV, Nutrition, and Malaria with an accumulated experience in linking up and networking with other institutions to identify desired Sexual reproductive health, HIV/AIDS/Malaria/TB programmatic activities, capacity building, Health System & policy development advocacy, and Research Methodology.

Background spans from program management, grant management, teaching, research, prevention strategy development, program planning, implementation and evaluation, organizational management, budgeting and patient assessment/care. Adept at building collaborative working relationships with community health agencies including diplomatic officials while enhancing service quality with continuity. Well versed in concepts and practices to support and promote international health related endeavors with proven knowledge on principles of nursing and practices. Successful track record in leading teams, driving multiple projects while meeting tight deadlines. Dedicated and driven with a solid educational background and excellent communication, analytical and problem solving abilities with extensive international experience.

Currently he is the National Project officer for School Health, Sexual Reproductive Health Project funded by DANIDA, HBC/Malaria Control Program funded by UNICEF,WASH Project in Kitgum and Pader funded by Dutch government/AMREF Netherland and worked as a Clinic Supervisor with Medicines sans Frontiers-Holland in Lira. He is a Member of the Uganda Nurse and Midwives Association, Member of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives councils, Member of the Uganda Comprehensive Nurses Association (UCONA) and Member of Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research (GFMER).

Research experience

Currently conducting research on access to and utilization of Reproductive health services among adolescents in secondary schools in Pader District(Principal investigator) from September 2012 ending in March 2013.
MOH/MEDAIR/UNICEF: Survey to review the impact of VHT program in Acholi Sub region May 2009.( I was the Research assistant).
MOH/AMREF: Baseline Survey to review the effectiveness of VHTs in malaria prevention, treatment and control in acholi sub region September 2007(I was the research assistant).
Causes of teenage pregnancy in Kaberamaido District -Uganda, May 2004. (I was the Principal investigator).

Morris Okwir who works with AMREF Uganda will coordinate the GFMER Course in Uganda “From Research to Practice: Training in Sexual and Reproductive Health Research" and will provide technical help and appropriate assistance at local level to the Uganda students and other in service medical and non medical personnel’s.

Uganda reproductive health situation at glance

Uganda’s contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) was 23.7 percent in 2006 (World Bank 2011). The CPR varies widely within the country, however, from 21 percent in rural areas to 43 percent in urban areas. Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) data show an increase in the unmet need for family planning between 1995 and 2006, estimated at 41 percent in 2006 (Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS] and ORC Macro 2006). This low CPR coupled with a high unmet need for family planning indicates poor access to reproductive health services. The most recent UDHS indicates that 94 percent of women in Uganda received antenatal care (ANC) from a skilled provider, although in 2010/11 the majority (68 percent) received less than the recommended four visits (UBOS and ORC Macro 2006; MoH 2011e). Most women sought care from a nurse or midwife (84 percent), 9 percent received care from a doctor, and only 1 percent of the women received ANC from a traditional birth attendant (UBOS and ORC Macro 2006). The percentage of births attended by skilled health personnel per year in 2006 was 42 percent, compared with 55 percent in SSA and 54 percent in the LIC group (World Bank 2010). According to the 2010/11 AHSPR, the proportion of women delivering at health facilities was estimated at 39 percent, an increase from 33 percent the previous year.

Current GFMER members in Uganda

Useful links