UGANDA
CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION (UCRF) MEETING BETWEEN BRANCH REPRESENTATIVE
AND THE BOD HELD AT NEMELA ON 15/DEC/2012
AGENDA
- Registration
- Opening prayer
- Introduction
- Welcome remarks from chair
- Background
- Strengthening the secretarial
- Work plan for 2013; report from Luweero & Artists group.
- AOB
1
Min 01/12: Registration was done and members
present were 9 people.
Min 02/12: Opening prayer was done by Anita Sseruwagi
and the meeting was brought to order at 11:00am.
Min 03/12: Members individually introduced
themselves.
Min 04/12: Welcome remarks from the Chairperson:
- The chair welcomed everybody present
and thanked members for coming.
- He went on to mention that the 1st meeting of the kind was in Luweero last year [March 9th, 2012] and this is the 2nd.
- UCRF has existed since 2008 and officially launched in 2009.
- But it has had ups and downs.
- Unfortunately, shortly after the launch, 2 of the promoters developed misunderstandings but not related to UCRF but in business and when these fell in the ears of the patron who is a perfectionist, she opted to resign and this was the 1st set back.
- The 2nd set back was the weakness from the board of directors. This is because of developing UCRF from top and not bottom. This is why the CEO decided to pick up UCRF from the grassroots.
- He went on to mention that the 1st meeting of the kind was in Luweero last year [March 9th, 2012] and this is the 2nd.
- UCRF has existed since 2008 and officially launched in 2009.
- But it has had ups and downs.
- Unfortunately, shortly after the launch, 2 of the promoters developed misunderstandings but not related to UCRF but in business and when these fell in the ears of the patron who is a perfectionist, she opted to resign and this was the 1st set back.
- The 2nd set back was the weakness from the board of directors. This is because of developing UCRF from top and not bottom. This is why the CEO decided to pick up UCRF from the grassroots.
Min 05/12: UCRF Background by Mr.
Isaac Magoola CEO.
The
idea of UCRF started way back before the launch remarked the CEO. In the constitution
in 2009 all people who attended the launch were founders.
- Although Nabagereka resigned as a patron but she is still a promoter.
- The Board of Trustees and Promoters in the launch resolved that USA is there but as supporting and after the conflict, it was resolved that the two groups operate independently.
- Lex Uganda is watching UCRF and this explains why the executive team decided to operate slowly.
- The meeting of November 2012 decided that we should re launch UCRF.
- The New Letter head now emphasizes ideas not individuals. Even the brochures were changed.
- As UCRF, some members commented that volunteering is very difficult.
- Prosy who was once a powerful volunteer became very busy and slowed down.
- Luweero by virtue of their set up, have done very many things that we need to borrow a leaf from their approach.
- Although Nabagereka resigned as a patron but she is still a promoter.
- The Board of Trustees and Promoters in the launch resolved that USA is there but as supporting and after the conflict, it was resolved that the two groups operate independently.
- Lex Uganda is watching UCRF and this explains why the executive team decided to operate slowly.
- The meeting of November 2012 decided that we should re launch UCRF.
- The New Letter head now emphasizes ideas not individuals. Even the brochures were changed.
- As UCRF, some members commented that volunteering is very difficult.
- Prosy who was once a powerful volunteer became very busy and slowed down.
- Luweero by virtue of their set up, have done very many things that we need to borrow a leaf from their approach.
What
have we achieved?
1.
We have a Constitution
2.
Structures are in place
3.
Bank account was opened
4.
Subsidiary Cancer Centre is
there
5.
Printed some t-shirts with a
UCRF logo though all were taken to Canada.
6.
Have a website operational
7.
Hosted a medical student from St.
Andrews University Scotland.
Comments
from the Background report
─ Members of Masaka got so touched by the
loss of a vice chairperson who passed away sometime back. But for what has been
done by UCRF they feel so glad.
─ Sylvia a medical student from St. Andrew’s University Scotland came to carry out a research to find out how much; cancer has affected the country. She did a research in Mbale, Gulu, Mulago hospitals and produced a very nice report highlighting how cancer had hit our country.
─ Sylvia a medical student from St. Andrew’s University Scotland came to carry out a research to find out how much; cancer has affected the country. She did a research in Mbale, Gulu, Mulago hospitals and produced a very nice report highlighting how cancer had hit our country.
Action: The CEO is hereby reminded to circulate a UCRF
constitution and Sylvia’s report to members. The chairman has also compiled a
pamphlet which is very simple and easy to use by anyone. Members also requested
for a copy of it.
─ Equipment-
we have a new headed paper and now all we have to do is for us to put down/
develop a list of UCRF requirements. Eventually we should get out for
fundraising.
-Standing promise by Bishop is that UCRF needs are welcome.
- UCRF and its intentions are respected.
-Standing promise by Bishop is that UCRF needs are welcome.
- UCRF and its intentions are respected.
Min
06/12: Strengthening the secretariat
The
Secretariat has only two people yet the CEO Mr. Isaac has a spinal problem and
as a medical requirement, he is demanded not to sit for long, at most not more
than 30 minutes. The problem with this is man power is that there is very heavy
load for only two people. We thus need to strengthen the secretariat for
effective performance. We therefore, need strengthening.
* We
thus need a program Manager/program coordinator to assist in coordinating UCRF
activities. We are sure UCRF will survive and it will be there for the future.
* UCRF
today currently consists of the Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and
assistant CEO. But the CEO is already sickly and yet the other two have
advanced in age. There is need therefore to have someone strong to come up and
steer up UCRF. We have also experimented with people who have not understood
what UCRF is all about.
Action: Members
therefore unanimously proposed Mr.
Isanga Anthony as the new UCRF Proposed Program Manager.
Challenges
encountered by UCRF
-
UCRF has had teasing problems but we should
not be discouraged
-
Artists had a table for UCRF activities
although the challenge was that they had no clear information and knowledge
about UCRF.
-
The other challenge with artists
is that as they mobilise people and communities, but require someone technical
who can render a clinical input to the community.
-
The other challenge is that due to HIV/AIDs, a
12-13 year old is already a mother especially among women.
-
The other challenge is that of
Uganda Cancer Institute. But the aim of UCRF is not to rival with Uganda Cancer
Institute. What we should understand is
that there is a big gap out there concerning cancer. The community badly needs
our support. Yet even medical people are sometimes troubled with issues
pertaining cancer. The community today is quick to run to witch crafts and the
average age here are the young who require our support. Let us therefore start small using very
simple approaches.
We need
therefore at this point in time to bench mark UCRF activities.
Min 07/12: UCRF Work plan for 2013
Uganda Cancer Research Foundation Luweero Integrated program report
─ The
report was read to the secretariat by Ms. Beatrice Kaibanda.
Matters arising from the UCRF Luweero Workshop which was held on 1st
Dec. 2012
─The
report highlighted the need to have Joint Workshops between Luweero and Kampala
& to come up with a joint work plan for the two groups to operate upon in
2013.
The report also highlighted Emphasis on Awareness and Advocacy. The question here is, how can we achieve it?
The report also highlighted Emphasis on Awareness and Advocacy. The question here is, how can we achieve it?
The CEO
indicated that already letters have been written to a number of schools to introduce
cancer clubs there. Such schools include; Budo, Nabbingo, Gayaza, Makerere
College & one school in Luzira. The idea is to organise students, give them
information and where possible to administer direct treatment for cervical
cancer. However, no feedback has been received yet.
Action: To follow up on those letters in the
respective schools & Anthony shall assist in establishing their contacts to
enable the Chair person & CEO discuss modalities with the individual head
teachers in the respective schools. Dan will follow up on the school in Luzira.
− On the
artists’ side, the artists have started composing songs and plays in line with
cancer.
They will thus be required to develop a proposal indicating what exactly they plan to deliver to the community. On this regard, the Chair person UCRF, Ms. Anita Sseruwagi and Mr. Joseph Muzaale will link up to agree on what they plan to do. Hence the doctor’s consent is critical here. However, much of the information has already been developed by the chairperson.
They will thus be required to develop a proposal indicating what exactly they plan to deliver to the community. On this regard, the Chair person UCRF, Ms. Anita Sseruwagi and Mr. Joseph Muzaale will link up to agree on what they plan to do. Hence the doctor’s consent is critical here. However, much of the information has already been developed by the chairperson.
To plan
the documentary with the support & consultation of the executive members in
a bid to promote the image of UCRF. Interviews for the executive to be captured
in the documentary will be held on 26th January 2013.
Action: Talk to the existing members and especially
those who are interested to serve as Cancer awareness volunteers. To this respect, Ms. Beatrice Kaibanda is
charged with mobilising volunteers from Luweero branch, Anita Kampala and Maria
Masaka. This should be done and finalised by the end of January. At the end of
January all groups should give a feedback to Anthony about recruitment of
volunteers and training them.
We should however note the following:
−
Any medical activity requires
permission from the national council.
−
The schools have to give us
permission
Way forward
-
Then Masaka group should come up with a Board
-
To introduce guidance on cancer
in schools.
-
To introduce cancer clubs in
school hand in hand with the artists.
-
To train cancer volunteer
Advocates by the aid of UCRF KABP forms.
-
To change cancer assistants to
Cancer awareness volunteers.
-
Artists to assist in sensitising
local communities about cancer.
-
To concentrate on a single task
but do it perfectly.
-
Reprinting the UCRF banner which
has been redesigned.
-
To device simple means and
approaches of fundraising for UCRF
-
To implement what we have said and to always
come back to evaluate what we have done.
-
The executive to listen to the
songs developed by our artists by the end of January and edit accordingly
before they are aired into public.
-
Branch centres to get
introductory letters for account opening from the national office.
-
To meet with the Board of
Trustees for a UCRF reunion.
-
To boost the Secretariat with
Man power
-
To equip Office
-
To work out a program for next
year
-
As artists to have a TV show documenting
the cancer scourge every month.
Min
07/12: Closure
The meeting closed at 1.30pm with lunch served to
members by the Chairperson UCRF at NAMELA.
Prepared by: Signed
by:
...................................... .........................................
Mr. Isanga Anthony Dr. Yusuf Mpairwe
Secretary Chairperson
Mr. Isanga Anthony Dr. Yusuf Mpairwe
Secretary Chairperson
Members pose for a photo soon after the meeting
In the suit is Dr. Yusuf Mpairwe Chairman BOD. In the picture from the left is Ms. Beatrice Kaibanda, Mr. Dan Kireju, Mrs. Baluuti Margaret, Dr. Yusufu Mpairwe, Mr.
Isanga Anthony, Mrs. Juuko Maria & Ms. Anita Sseruwagi.
Mr. Dan Kireju in centre, Ms.
Beatrice Kaibanda on the left and Mrs. Baluuti Margaret on the right
Mr. Isanga Anthony gives his remarks and words of acceptance soon
after being nominated as UCRF Programs Coordinator
Mr. Muzaale giving his contribution during the meeting as members look
on
In the picture from the left is Mr. Muzaale Joseph, Ms. Beatrice Kaibanda, Mr. Dan Kireju, Mrs. Baluuti Margaret, Dr. Yusufu Mpairwe, Mr. Isanga Anthony, Mrs. Juuko Maria & Ms. Anita Sseruwagi.
Mr. Dan looks on as Mr. Muzaale Joseph an Artist signs something
In the centre is Dr. Yusufu Mpairwe while giving his introductory
remarks.
In a green Kitenge shirt is Mr. Isaac Magoola the CEO smiling while
giving the UCRF background
Mr. Isanga Anthony taking down minutes during the meeting
