Jonathan Nkalubo – Chairperson One Health Students Against COVID-19
One Health Students Against COVID-19 (OHSAC) is a student platform that began operations in June 2020 and was founded by the Student One Health Innovation Clubs (SOHICs) of Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Makerere University with a major objective of engaging students in the fight against COVID-19 while embracing a One Health approach in all our work. We believe that multidisciplinary teams work best, hence our leadership committee is comprised of students coming from different academic backgrounds and institutions.
At OHSAC, we acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected lives of many, globally. For example, in Uganda like many other countries, schools were closed. We therefore utilize our platforms to engage students who are currently at home in the fight against COVID-19 especially through increasing public awareness about the disease and how it can be prevented. We realize that as the lock down is being lifted gradually, many people are not observing the safety guidelines. Therefore, through our social media platforms, we called upon students to submit information about several aspects of the pandemic in order to educate the public.
The pandemic has also impacted lives of many in several ways for example losing loved ones, financial challenges, inability to carryout fun activities and loss of jobs; all this while there is a huge gap in mental health awareness. We dedicated the month of August to address this problem. In addition, we have partnered with other student initiatives on the continent through a ‘Mind your Mind’ campaign to reach a wider population.
Currently, we hold online discussions twice a week on carefully selected topics about the pandemic and its effects. Through these moderated discussions, we enable students and other members of the public to share their views, stories and solutions. Through this informal learning space, we have reached out to many people including those from other countries like Rwanda, USA, India, Canada etc.
Finally, we shall have a webinar on mental health at the end of August 2020. I invite you all to join us through following our social media platforms below and getting involved whenever called upon. Together we can defeat this Pandemic.
Facebook: One Health Students Against COVID 19
Twitter: @ohsac2020
Instagram: ohsac2020
Email: ohsac2020@gmail.com
WhatsAPP: +256700117174
Jonathan Nkalubo is a 5th year Medical Student at Makerere University