GHDC officially hands off reproductive health project to NGO in Uganda

ernmental organization PATH in Uganda. This was a major milestone in bringing the project to completion.

Spring break was a great week for students to take a breather before the final stretch of the semester, but it was especially momentous for one of Case Western Reserve University’s student organizations. The Global Health Design Collaborative (GHDC) officially handed over their DMPA-SC packaging project to international public health non-gov-

“This achievement is the culmination of almost five years of research and prototype development,” said second-year biomedical engineering major Saloni Baral, the CWRU team lead for the project. “I am so excited to see our design being adopted by an entity like PATH that strives to promote women’s health globally.”

Founded in 2015, GHDC is a club within the Undergraduate Student Government that collaborates with students and faculty at Makerere University (MAK) in Kampala, Uganda through a partnership known as the Engineering-Anthropology Collaboration. GHDC is advised by Dr. Janet McGrath, chair of the anthropology department, and Dr. Andrew Rollins, professor of biomedical engineering. MAK students are under the guidance of Dr. Robert Ssekitoleko, head of the university’s

Founded in 1977, PATH is a global team that works to eliminate health inequities in more than 70 countries. This NGO works in conjunction with government leaders, bilateral organizations and grassroots groups to address various issues such as malaria, maternal care and HIV/AIDS.

PATH is especially committed to advancing affordable, high-quality contraceptive technologies that empower those assigned female at birth to take control of their sexual and reproductive health. The ingenuity of DMPA-SC delivery through PATH’s device is that patients can self-inject. Most common alternatives must be administered by trained clinicians, who may be in facilities inaccessible for those living in rural areas.

Continue reading on page 3