TUS students support Nurture Africa healthcare teams in Uganda
Nursing students from the Department of Nursing and Healthcare at Technology University of the Shannon (TUS) have returned to Ireland following three weeks volunteering in Uganda where they supported Nurture Africa’s healthcare teams to run pop-up HIV screening tents and took part in outreach work.
The 12 third year students flew out on June 6 to team up with Nurture Africa, a charity based in the capital Kampala.
Those who volunteered in Uganda were Grainne Dee, Caoimhe Shiel, Roisin Kelly, Melissa Tumulty, Holly Shaw, Della Clarke, Katie McGee, Caitlin Duncan, Ciara Bracken, Julie Maher, Sarah Clarke and Maria Eduarda Alves de Sousa.
Nurture Africa provides outreach services via a medical centre it runs in Kampala.
The charity also provides health and educational services, child advocacy, vocational training, and micro-financing for marginalised families, giving them the tools they need to redefine their futures.
In total, more than 40 students and qualified professionals, from nursing, teaching, social care, physiotherapy and accounting, joined existing Nurture Africa staff for the three-week programme, among them the 12 students from TUS, eight who are studying General Nursing and four who are doing Mental Health Nursing.
While there, the nursing students carried out HIV tests at pop-up roadside clinics.
Jim Maguire, a lecturer in the Department of Nursing , TUS, who went on the trip, said: “HIV is a major health issue in many African states; in Uganda it affects about five percent of the population directly, but of course many more people’s lives are affected indirectly. Diagnosis and treatment is vital – and the students learned a lot assisting Nurture Africa. The school visits were another highlight, particularly the reading sessions in the school grounds. Altogether, it was an amazing experience to be able to see at first hand the incredible on-the-ground work done by Nurture Africa.”
The students also attended counselling sessions for people with HIV and volunteered in all the clinics and wards at the Nurture Africa medical centre, the pre and post-natal units and the delivery ward, theatre and outpatients.
Kevin Murphy, Programme Manager of Nurture Africa, said: “Nurture Africa’s vision is to empower families to become self-reliant. The partnership with TUS enables students to support our teams work to positively impact more lives and households in Uganda. Whilst doing so, the students can also deepen their own understanding of sustainable development and gain a unique insight into healthcare in Uganda during their studies.”
The General Nursing students also held educational sessions with teenage girls in schools regarding sexual and reproductive health and menstruation while the Mental Health Nursing students and staff ran discussion groups on self-care and managing anxiety and depression.
The TUS volunteers were also involved in teaching basic first aid to schoolkids, toured the many small business start-up projects that are supported by loans from Nurture Africa and visited homes of people who are living with a HIV diagnosis.
Dr Des Cawley, Head of Department of Nursing and Healthcare, TUS, said: “I am delighted to see our partnership with Nurture Africa going from strength to strength. The shared learning for staff and students involved is tremendous and we are looking forward to another successful volunteer experience in the summer of 2026.”
To learn more about Nurture Africa go to www.nurtureafrica.ie.