Describing research as key to adding value to critical thinking and innovation, the Uganda National Health Research Services Organization (UNHRO) Director General Dr. Sam Okware has called on Government to prioritize and increase funding dedicated to science based research. Dr. Okware who was speaking during the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Annual Science Open Day in Entebbe on Friday noted that Ugandans and Africans in general have a very bad attitude towards research which has largely contributed to Africa’s under-development. Dr. Okware noted that Ugandans and Africans in general still view research as a complex and expensive venture.
Africans have a bad attitude towards research which has largely contributed the continent’s under-development. There is need to integrate research component in primary Schools so as to inspire the young generation to embrace science, Dr. Okware said.
He stressed that African Governments need to dedicate at least 1 percent of their health budgets to fund science based research.
Dr. Okware’s plea was re-echoed by the Acting Director Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu who called on government to increase funding for science based research.
I thank government for encouraging science but there is need for more resources to be invested in research to inspire the young generation embrace different careers that the science field has to offer. We need to encourage the young generation to become scientists, Dr. Kaleebu stated.
Meanwhile Dr. Amandua Jacinto the commissioner Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health who represented the health Minister Dr. Ruth Achieng called for national schools science competitions to encourage the young generation take on and pursue science related careers.
Veteran Educationist Fagil Mandy decried the increasing lack of extra co-curricular activities in schools and said that kids are slowly dying away due to lack of physical Education and exercises. He revealed that over 98 percent of schools in Uganda don’t teach physical Education while 75 percent of all primary school children spend most of their time doing exams and tests and there is hardly any time for them to exercise their bodies. He also called for science fairs and exhibitions to be taken to schools.
The third UVRI Annual Science Open Day was organized under the theme: Science, the Future and Me and aimed at providing an opportunity for young people especially children, interested in science to learn about research, interact with practicing scientists and researchers as well as explore the possibility of a science- research career.
The open day is also meant to give children an opportunity to explore science outside their classrooms.
By interesting primary School pupils in science at an early stage, the UVRI galvanizes the government policy of prioritizing science subjects in primary, secondary, university and tertiary institutions, Pamela Wairagala the UVRI Communications and Public Engagement officer said.
The third Edition of the UVRI Annual Science open day brought together more than 1,000 primary five and primary 6 pupils from schools in Wakiso and Kampala Districts who were sensitized on the different viruses ravaging the African continent. The previous open days were conducted in 2009 and 2013 have targeted university, tertiary institutions and secondary schools.
