September 20, 2023, concluded a very busy week for CONSCOV, the BSU-led research project on the impact of COVID-19 on youth and adolescents' sexual and reproductive health.
The Danish CONSCOV team members, Prof. Susan Whyte and Assoc. Prof. Hanne Overgaard Mogensen, both from the University of Copenhagen, arrived in Gulu on September 12 for pre-arranged CONSCOV engagements. But their visit this time coincided with an international conference hosted by Gulu University – the 5th Biennial African Philosophy World Conference – held between September 18 and 20, 2023.
By the time of their arrival, several members of CONSCOV’s Gulu-based team were already preparing presentations for that conference. The conference theme, Gender Dimensions of African Philosophy,” provided an opportunity for the team to present its befitting findings so far.
Since April 2022, the team, whose membership includes researchers from Gulu University, the University of Copenhagen, Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), and Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH), has been researching reproductive health issues among the youth in Gulu City and Adjumani districts. Besides the research, they have been giving the youth and adolescents free sexual and reproductive health services.
When the conference finally kicked off, they had to keep juggling between attending conference sessions, making presentations, as well as attending CONSCOV meetings.
L-R: Members of the CONSCOV team Esther Giramia, Patrick Ochen and Patrick Kabwijamu on the second day of the conference
No one could miss the conference. Dr. Agatha Alidri, the CONSCOV Principal Investigator, and also the BSU Coordinator, was the chair of one of the sessions. Hanne and Susan had to attend at least one session, on September 19, during which CONSCOV made two presentations. Conference participants were very interested in the research COSCOV is doing. Emily Kayeny (GRRH) and Filda Anicia (RHU) presented mainly the overview of the CONSCOV project. Their presentation was titled Covid-19, Adolescence and Youth Reproductive Health: A Gender-based Analysis on Acholi Sub-region in Uganda.
Patrick Ochen and Patrick Kabwijamu, who are CONSCOV research assistants, moved the audience with their presentation titled Gender Dimensions of Aguu (Socially Excluded Youth) in Gulu City, Northern Uganda. The aguu are mostly understood as notorious young people committing crimes in Gulu City. The two Patricks told the conference that these were people who needed help, that they joined the streets searching for what to eat but eventually, they transitioned into criminals.
Esther Giramia made her presentation on September 20, titled Affirmative Action Policy and Female Education in Gulu University: An African Philosophical Perspective.
Giramia presents during a session chaired by Dr. Jerry Bagaya (l), the Gulu University Academic Registrar
Despite the busy schedule, the CONSCOV team was able to review all the research materials it has gathered so far. The team also gave members new tasks.
Dr. Alidri (l), Prof. Mogensen (2nd l), and Prof. Whyte (3rd l) with other leaders of the CONSCOV research team
Commenting about the week, Dr. Alidri said she was happy with the outcome.
“First of all, I am so happy that our young people were able to present during this international conference. This is a good experience for them. They had to prepare themselves and go through the rituals of making a presentation. We have received acknowledgment from some of the participants that we are doing a good job of mentoring them.
“Secondly, all the activities we had planned earlier for CONSCOV have been implemented. We have held all the meetings and reviewed the materials we wanted to review. All in all, it has been a busy week but also an exciting one,” said Dr. Alidri.