Prof. David Guwatudde from Makerere University’s School of Public Health will represent Uganda at the United Nations 79th General Assembly (UNGA79) Science Summit in New York next week.

Scheduled for Wednesday, 19th September 2024, Prof. Guwatudde’s presentation will highlight adolescent health research in sub-Saharan Africa, part of the efforts by the DASH Network (Research Network for the Design and Evaluation of Adolescent Health Interventions and Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa).

The Science Summit at UNGA79, which runs from 10th to 27th September, serves as a platform for global scientific collaboration, bringing together experts from across disciplines to discuss the role of science in addressing global challenges and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With a strong focus on promoting health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa, DASH aims to address critical issues around adolescent health, spanning key areas such as nutrition, physical activity, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and violence.

Prof. Guwatudde will join Prof. Angela Chukwu from the University of Ibadan Research Foundation, with each delivering a 10-minute presentation on DASH’s initiatives and its potential policy impact, according to a news update this site accessed on the School of Public Health website.

The presentations will take place from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm East African Time (9:00 am to 1:00 pm New York Time). The presentations will emphasize the DASH Network’s contributions to advancing population-based research and policy-making for adolescent health in the region.

DASH is a multidisciplinary research initiative involving institutions from seven sub-Saharan African countries, as well as partners from Germany and the United States. The Network is committed to enhancing adolescent health outcomes through targeted interventions and sustainable policy frameworks, drawing on the unique challenges and opportunities in the region.

The UNGA79 Science Summit, now in its second year, is a hybrid event offering both online and in-person sessions, building on the success of last year’s summit, which featured over 1,700 speakers and more than 400 sessions.

This year’s event will bring together a diverse array of experts to discuss how science can contribute to achieving the UN’s Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Among the key objectives of the summit are fostering global collaboration, enhancing access to scientific data for low- and middle-income countries, and promoting sustainable technologies. The summit will also focus on strengthening partnerships and capacity-building efforts in developing countries, key components of SDG 17, which emphasizes empowering sustainable development through global partnerships and innovation.

In line with the overarching theme, “Science for Global Challenges,” the summit will feature presentations, workshops, roundtables, and plenary sessions that address each of the 17 UN SDGs.

By promoting inclusive science and enabling global cooperation, the summit aims to catalyze scientific innovation and knowledge sharing to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Prof. Guwatudde’s participation at the UNGA79 Science Summit is a significant milestone for Uganda’s scientific community, highlighting the country’s contributions to global health research and policy development.

His presentation will not only showcase DASH’s work but also demonstrate how regional research initiatives are playing a crucial role in improving adolescent health across sub-Saharan Africa.

For more on this story, visit: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/events/dash-research-network-present-science-summit-during-79th-un-general-assembly-new-york

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Arinaitwe Rugyendo

The Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ResearchFinds News and a Doctor of Philosophy in Journalism and Communication from Makerere University a credential that anchors his editorial vision in academic rigour and positions ResearchFinds News at the intersection of research and public interest journalism.

An accomplished journalist with over two decades of experience in Uganda’s media industry, Rugyendo has navigated every tier of the newsroom from cab reporter to Bureau Chief, Managing Editor, and Marketing and Digital Media Director at two of the country’s most consequential publications: the Daily Monitor and Red Pepper. At Red Pepper, he helped pioneer a participatory publishing model that transformed how Ugandan journalism related to its audience, a contribution that earned him international recognition and remains a reference point in African media scholarship.

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With a PhD now in hand, a practitioner’s instinct sharpened over two decades, and a platform built on the conviction that research belongs in the public domain, Rugyendo is one of Uganda’s most distinctive voices at the intersection of scholarship, journalism, and nation-building.

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