KNOW YOUR AFRICAN HEROES
Mungherera
was born on October 25 1957 to Seezi and Joyce Mungherera. She is the first
born of six children-three girls and three boys. She went to Kijjabwemi Primary
school in Masaka, Nakasero Primary school in Kampala and Gayaza High school.
She later joined Makerere University medical school and the London school of
Tropical medicine and Hygiene.
The
54-year old activist has been a medical doctor for over 30 years and a
psychiatrist for over 20 years with special interest in forensic psychiatry.
She studied medicine at Makerere University Medical School in Kampala, Uganda,
before taking a diploma in tropical medicine at the London School of Tropical
Medicine and Hygiene.
She
served in Butabika mental hospital as a medical officer and later as a visiting
psychiatrist there. She later pursued a Master’s degree in psychiatry at
Makerere University. She returned to work to Makerere University medical school
where she taught psychiatry and developed a Forensic Psychiatry course for
Postgraduate doctors there. Mungherera headed the Uganda Medical Association
and was a member of the commission of enquiry that investigated the Global Fund
scandal. She is an advocate for doctor’s welfare, mental health rights among so
many other roles. She is married to Richard Mushanga, a retired banker. The
couple had two adopted children one of whom passed on. They have homes in Bunga
and Bushenyi. She is a Rotarian and loves to visit places. She is also a member
of Cohort 77, a group of doctors that were at University around the year 1977. For
11 years she was a senior consultant psychiatrist at Mulago National Referral
Hospital, Kampala.
Through
her medical profession she has provided not only medical and counseling services
but she helped establish an organisation that has transformed the lives of
thousands of abused young girls. Hope After Rape has been at the forefront of
providing support to survivors of sexual abuse and other forms of gender-based
violence. It has also helped to raise awareness of government, NGOs and
communities about psychological effects of sexual abuse and other forms of
gender-based violence. The organization started partnerships with other organizations
to rehabilitate survivors of sexual abuse and other forms of gender-based
violence. Hope after Rape has also conducted wide-ranging research and
disseminated crucial information on sexual abuse and other forms of
gender-based violence. It has also offered training in psychological management
of gender-based violence.
She
is a founder member of Uganda Women Medical Doctors Association and was the
first woman in Uganda to be elected President of the Uganda Medical Association
in 1998 and again in 2010. She was in the forefront of bringing together the
national medical associations in Eastern Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and
Rwanda) long before the revived East African Community started its work.
She
served as Vice President of the East, Central and South Africa region of
Commonwealth medical Associations and has participated in global medical
conventions and initiatives.
In
2013, Dr. Mungherera became President of the World Medical Association (WMA) a
role she has undertaken with diligence becoming the first woman President of
the WMA since 2002 and the first African woman, having been elected unopposed
by delegates at the WMA’s annual General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand.
As
President of WMA Dr. Mungherera facilitated policy interventions to promote
good ethical practice in the world and champion human rights of patients and
physicians. She has worked to ensure that poor countries become more involved
in activities of the Association.
A
worthy advocate for better health, her role will continue to have a great
impact on humanity
Comments
Post a Comment