Sports federations, health professionals, and educators in Kampala, Uganda will receive education training on recognition and management for concussion and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) through a new partnership between the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit/CATT and the Uganda Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Sports.

In 2014, research showed that low levels of knowledge about concussion/mTBI was identified as a barrier to proper management of the injury. In-person training sessions on concussion and CATT will be held in the summer for Ugandan health professionals, coaches and managers from the FUFA (Federation of Uganda Football Association), FUBA (Federation of Uganda Basketball Association), and the Rugby Association. This will be a pilot study which will be evaluated and then expanded to a larger audience, including teachers and school administrators, and eventually include more sports, with the ultimate goal of increasing knowledge and awareness for better concussion recognition and management among Ugandan athletes. This pilot work will then be carried forward in neighbouring countries such as Kenya and Tanzania.

“Global health is a priority for underdeveloped countries and I’m pleased and excited to be giving the opportunity to give back to my East Africa roots and contributing to the health and safety of athletes in Uganda,” said Dr. Babul.

Partnerships were made on a recent visit to Uganda with local sports organizations, including the FUFA, FUBA, Uganda Olympic Committee, Rugby Uganda, National Sports Council of Uganda, College of Health Sciences at Makerere University, and the Uganda Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Sports.

[Photo: Dr. Shelina Babul poses with Elijah Njawuzi, Administrator of the Uganda Olympic Committee, in Uganda.]