Need For Student Protection against Hepatitis B in Developing Countries

Worldwide 2 billion people are exposed to hepatitis B infection with 65 million infected in sub-Saharan Africa but Uganda with 10% national prevalence of the infection.

2013, was the year when I had my first clinical experience as a third year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. By then, I was the president Mbarara University Nursing Students Association (MUNSA) hence the executive head for student nurses at the university. 

It was around 12pm during a clinical practice when blood splashed onto 5 of us at the emergency ward, Mbarara Regional Referral hospital in western Uganda. This was a horrific nightmare for we didn’t know the infection status of the patient. We all scuttled to a tap, opened it, and obtained some water which we used to wash off blood from our faces. Some went further to rinse for they felt they had tasted some portions. As the MUNSA president, I took the initiative to address the pressing problem and then later on had the patient tested for a variety of disease infections. Luck was on our side for he only had diabetes.

Heather Wappot and I wrote a grant proposal to the Peace Corps, we succeeded and later MUNSA initiated the first hepatitis B vaccination campaign at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

As an association, we vaccinated hospital staff for Mbarara Regional Referral hospital, lecturers, students undertaking the following courses; Nursing, Medicine, Medical lab, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical sciences. 

The vaccine doses were offered as follows: Dose 1 March 2014, Dose 2 April 2014 and Dose 3 September 2014. 101 medical students received three doses and 12 two doses of vaccine. 49 Nursing students received three doses and 15 two dosages of vaccine. 56 medical lab students received three doses and 5 two doses of the vaccine.

The results demonstrate the high student interest in protection against hepatitis B infection. This calls for universities and the ministry of health to generate policies to initiate and sustain programs that efficiently vaccinate students in health professions against hepatitis B. This initiative would curb the disease at the primary level.

Mulungu Kenneth

2013/14 President, Mbarara University Nursing Students’ Association

IDENTITY

Occasionally at older ages we get baptized with different names depending on the conducts we exhibit in society. I have fallen a victim of circumstance during my BSN program studies at Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda for which I am referred to as a philosopher (Due to the logical reasoning), Goal oriented millennial (Due to a marked clear sense of direction) and Artistic (Due to creativity). This has marked an identity in the society I currently live in. Consequently, I got prompted to analyze what “Identity” meant and how it impacted people’s livelihoods.

It is the difference or character that marks off an individual from the rest of the same kind. It is also a degree of selfhood or knowledge of who one is. “It is theft of the self.” Estee Martin.

The way we see ourselves sometimes differs from the way others see us. This yields two types of identity which are self and societal identity. Our conducts, wear, talks, movement, interests, visions and the people we relate with give us an identity for we live in a world of cause and effect. 

Generally society judges and defines us basing on what we have done and not what we wish to do. The way we treat ourselves and others is important in making an identity. “Identity is such a crucial affair that one shouldn’t rush into” David Quammon. 

You are who you surround yourself with. It’s therefore important for one to choose and engage in the right type of circle to portray an intended identity.  

TMN conceptual triad is my personal phenomenon of Time, Mind, and Numbers respectively which is a fundamental requirement for all personnel for we ought to use our minds (M) in the appropriate time (T) frequently (N) to develop behaviors which mark our identity. This signifies that we are fully responsible for our actions and identity. “Branding is not merely about differentiating products, it’s about striking emotional chords with consumers. It is about cultivating identity, attachment and trust to inspire customer loyalty. Chinese brands score low on attributes such as sophisticated, desirable, innovative, friendly and trust worthy” Nirmalya Kumar. It is therefore important for organizations and individuals to precede TMN conceptual triad when looking forward to engaging in any activity. 

The mind is the master piece behind one’s identity. It’s the processing unit for all your output to the audience. It grows with what you feed it. Expose yourself to meaningful things and it shall process meaningful outputs hence expressing a meaningful identity. 

The way we present before others tells much about who we are. Your philosophy either transcends you over the ordinary limit or descends you far below the average. 

People often behave in line with the way they think. Intangible values such as honesty, trust and faithfulness far weigh much than we can imagine. It’s therefore fundamental for everyone to build a desirable identity for it’s never too late to develop one.

 

 

Kenneth Mulungu

Mulkent90@gmail.com