In Spring 2024, a team from George Washington University’s School of Nursing traveled to Makata, a rural village in Uganda’s Mukono district, for a hands-on global health experience that made an indelible impact on both students and the community. This immersive program, in partnership with Omni Med, an international NGO working closely with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, allowed GW Nursing students to deliver direct clinical care, conduct vital health education, and engage deeply with the local culture. Led by Clinical Instructor Diana Lora, D.N.P., CNS, M.S.N., RN, CMSRN, and Program Associate Shawn Bayrd, the trip was designed as part of GW Nursing’s broader mission to prepare future healthcare providers to address disparities in low-resource settings.
Learning by Doing: Global Health Skills in Action
The primary objectives of the program were twofold: to equip students with global health competencies and to address the critical health concerns of the local Ugandan community. Each of the seven students participating in the trip completed 45 hours of direct client care, meeting clinical requirements while simultaneously addressing urgent healthcare needs. “Overseas experience is invaluable; it is not something you can teach in a classroom setting,” one student reflected. “There is something you learn from getting a little uncomfortable, and stepping outside your normal rhythms.”
The experience included various health education and clinical activities, from home visits to hypertension screenings and school-based health education. This variety enabled students to sharpen their clinical skills in a challenging environment, as they witnessed firsthand the public health obstacles in a low-resource community. Through close collaboration with Uganda’s Village Health Teams (VHTs)—volunteer community health workers—the students taught techniques for accurate blood pressure assessment and encouraging lifestyle changes. As they worked, students learned to communicate complex medical information in culturally relevant ways.
Home visits were another integral part of the program, offering students an inside view of the social determinants affecting local health. They worked alongside VHTs to assess each family’s health and educate them on infection prevention and hypertension management, all while gaining a unique understanding of the local factors impacting health outcomes in rural Uganda, including clean water access and food security.
Empowering Communities through Health Education
Equally important to the clinical experience were the program’s community-focused objectives, which aimed to increase health awareness and provide sustainable health solutions for Makata residents. The team offered health education to both VHTs and community members, focusing on prevalent issues like hypertension, infection prevention, and adolescent health.
Hypertension Screening and Education: In response to a high prevalence of hypertension in the area, the GW team trained 64 VHTs in blood pressure screening techniques, screening over 85 community members themselves. By training local health workers, the students ensured that these critical skills remained with the community long after they left.
School Health Education: Another project reached over 220 children, aged 9 to 15, through interactive sessions on hand hygiene, menstruation, and puberty. The students also introduced the process of creating reusable menstrual pads, helping local schoolchildren craft 170 pads as a way to support menstrual health and reduce school absenteeism. One student shared, “It was invaluable to experience what community health feels like when carried out abroad. This experience was extremely helpful for anyone considering a career in global health nursing.”
Overall, the clinical and educational activities led by the GW team benefited more than 400 individuals in Makata. The long-term goal is that the knowledge and skills shared will continue to improve health outcomes for years to come.
Cultural Immersion and Growth
Cultural immersion was a cornerstone of the program, enabling students to understand Ugandan society and the healthcare structures that shape local health. Uganda’s VHTs, who are the first point of contact for healthcare in rural areas, played a crucial role in helping students appreciate the value of grassroots health initiatives. Working side-by-side with these dedicated volunteers, the students gained respect for community-driven healthcare.
Beyond clinical duties, the team embraced Uganda’s rich culture. Visits to places like Jinja, the tourist capital in eastern Uganda, allowed students to experience the historical and cultural significance of the Nile River. "Standing at the source of the Nile was a profound experience that added depth to our time in Uganda," one student remarked.
The students also learned basic Luganda phrases and tasted local cuisine, such as matoke (steamed green bananas), chapati, and rolex (an omelette rolled in chapati). These simple but meaningful experiences helped students build connections and develop a deeper understanding of Ugandan life. “This program has opened my eyes to a lot of different aspects of my life, both professionally and personally,” a student noted.
A Future in Global Health Nursing
As the Spring 2024 Uganda trip demonstrated, GW Nursing’s partnership with Omni Med is a powerful model for blending clinical training, public health outreach, and cultural immersion. As the Spring 2024 Uganda trip demonstrated, GW Nursing’s partnership with Omni Med is a powerful model for blending clinical training, public health outreach, and cultural immersion
By building these foundational experiences in global health, GW Nursing is preparing its students for future careers where they can make a difference in underserved communities, whether abroad or closer to home. “You can’t quite explain it or teach it in a classroom setting; you just have to go,” said one student, encapsulating the program’s transformative power.