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Uganda Peoples Congress

Meet your UPC Presidential Candidates 2009

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OPUL DICKSON D

Opul Dickson D

Experience

2001/2008 - to date
Chairman,Executive Director& Founder -Uganda Business Coalition (UBC)- HIV/AIDS (initiates private sector & community HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs)

  • Advocates the development and adoption of HIV workplace policies & programs in the business communities.
  • Design, develop and direct innovative HIV/AIDS interventions in the informal business sectors such as the market places.
  • Build partnerships with key local and International HIV/AIDS stakeholders.
  • Mobilise resources to implement our core activities.
  • Support HIV/AIDS, TB, Reproductive health training and Education programs at the National and local levels including Corporate training programs.
  • Advocate for broader regional access to HIV/AIDS care and support services for Uganda and the region.
  • Develop model AIDS treatment centers to provide antiretroviral therapy to the sickest and the poorest communities in Africa.
  • Build the capacity of the centers in managing the Model treatment centers.
  • Set up the "Uganda Cares" program with the first center opened in Masaka and another center in S.Africa, Durban at the Umlazi township.
  • Collaborate with Ministry of health and actively supported in designing, developing and writing Global fund proposal for Uganda focusing on HIV/AIDS , TB and malaria program.
  • Participated as a member of CCM ( Country Coordinating Mechanism) for the Global fund Uganda.
  • Represents private sector in Stop TB partnership technical committee.

August 2007 - to date
Clinical Director Bethlehem Medical Center (Workers' Treatment Center)

  • Resource mobilization, clinic management activities.
  • Routine HIV/AIDs patient/Client management.
  • Bethlehem operates as a stand alone , self sustaining clinic model.

2004 - August 2007

  • Partnership building with Children's Aids fund with support of Glaxo Smithkline to establish first Worker's Treatment Center offering holistic HIV/AIDS care & support services including ARVs.
  • Won Grant of Presidential Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to scale up ARV and Care services.
  • Implements PEPFAR program in partnership with institute of human virology , Baltimore USA, Catholic relief services, Children's Aids fund.
  • Setting up and Managing 3 ART sites with over 3000 patients under care and cumulatively 1300 on ARVs in Uganda.
  • Implement AIM -USAID funded program to build infrastructure of local NGOs.
  • Treating and managing Patients on ARVs.

2003

  • Member of the National Antiretroviral therapy policy committee ministry of health;Member of finance subcommittee of ARVs in MOH. Representative private sector in National consultative committee of the Uganda Global fund to fight TB, HIV and Malaria.

2003

  • Developing research protocols such as assessing the impact of ARVs no the quality of life of patients on HAART. This is ongoing.

2002- Health Advisor for Crown Agents -UK (Partime)

  • Represent Crown agents in national, regional and international health meetings.
  • Build partnership with donors, governments and communities .
  • Advise on the development of an efficient and secure drug distribution system for the AIDS treatment centers.
  • Work with governments to develop a procurement, logistic systems for the Global fund products.
  • Support training programs on health related activities.

1997-2000

Country Representative - Merck, Sharpe and Dohme Pharmaceuticals limited.

  • Introduced Merck Antiretroviral drugs to the Ugandan market.
  • Conducted HIV/AIDS training programs with the goal to expanding correct use of the HIV/AIDs drugs in uganda.
  • Facilitated the development of the Antiretroviral drug distribution system in partnership with UNAIDS DRUG ACCESS Initiative and the Ministry of health Uganda.

Other Major Contributions/Achievements:

  • Chaired and Organised the first African great lakes conference on Access to ARVs in 2001
  • Organised a march for life attracting over 500 international NGOs in Barcelona advocating for ARVs in 2001
  • Presented papers in International AIDS events, E.g Harvard Business School,2003, Global business Coalition event in partnership with World Bank and UNAIDS, Livingstone Zambia 2003 etc., Global business coalition in partnership with world bank, UNAIDS in Mali ,December 2007.
  • Founder member of Pan Africa business coalition against HIV/AIDS.

Education

  • 1991-96 - Makerere University - Kampala (Uganda)
    MBChB - Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
  • 1996-97 - Southampton - UK.
    Diploma in principal of management and diploma in business management and administration
    Certificate in Computer Science.
  • 2000 - Leicester University - UK
    MBA - Leicester University
  • 2007 - Galillee College - Israel
    Diploma in Community HIV/AIDS Management
  • 2008 - Galillee College - Israel
    Diploma in Public Administration and Civil Service Management

Interests

  • Events / Conference organizing, Presentation of academic and research findings, Community outreach program, Computer and digital photography, traveling, Gardening.

Languages

  • Speaks English very fluently, French reasonably, Swahili Fluently, Luo Fluently, Luganda fluently.
DATE OF BIRTH: 18th arch 1970, Lira ( Uganda)
CITIZENSHIP: Ugandan
MARITAL STATUS: Married with 2 daughters
AGE: 39 years
Contact details: Mobile +256752636338; Email: dykson20@africaonline.co.ug
Physical address: P.O Box 34102 Kampala