First phase 3 trial of a chikungunya vaccine candidate finds it is generally safe and provokes an immune response

The VLA1553 vaccine candidate for chikungunya disease was generally well tolerated and produced an immune response in 99% or (263/266) of participants, according to a phase 3 randomised controlled trial published in The Lancet. Because the study, VLA1553-301, was not conducted in regions where chikungunya is endemic, researchers were unable to investigate whether the vaccine…

Vintage Health Technologies combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) with real-world experience to boost the Nigerian health system

Nigeria’s health system is getting a major boost from Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology through a new international health partnership.  Vantage Health Technologies, an international health technology provider – part of the BroadReach Group – is teaming up with Nigeria’s Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), a public health and development non-profit organisation. NHED harnesses…

New Guidelines to Shorten Treatment Duration for Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

Patients battling Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Uganda will soon benefit from a significant reduction in their treatment duration. Doctors anticipate that this change will help decrease the number of unnecessary deaths caused by TB and reduce the high cost of treatment per person. MDR-TB is a form of tuberculosis infection caused by bacteria that…

Enact Law to Declare President’s Health says Odonga-Otto

Former Aruu County Member of Parliament Samuel Odonga-Otto has proposed that the 11th Parliament consider enacting a law to regulate the declaration of sickness, health, and death of a sitting President. This proposal comes in light of President Yoweri Museveni’s self-isolation at State House Nakasero after testing positive for COVID-19. Odonga-Otto refers to a report…

Shocking: Mukono General Hospital registers 3.5 percent still births and four mothers die per month

Legislators within Mukono district, joined by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament -LOP in Parliament for an oversight activity in the area were on Monday shocked by cases of stillbirth happening at Mukono General Hospital. Mukono Hospital Medical Superintendent, Geoffrey Kasirye told the legislators that every month on average, the facility registers about 20 stillbirth…

Project shows Malaria control among children under five years in nomadic communities of Karamoja

By May 6, 2021, seasonal malaria chemoprevention was made available to children younger than 5 years in Karamoja through a project implemented by the Malaria Consortium with the assistance of Village Health Teams (VHTs) moving around from door to door to deliver medicines to the children. About two years later there is optimism in the…

Budget cuts deprive public health facilities of basic medical supplies

Researchers have raised concerns over budget cuts for the Ministry of Health that have left several public health facilities with a lack of essential medical supplies. The concern has been raised by a researcher at Medical Research Center (MRC) Masaka Center Dr. Jonathan Kitonsa during a science café organized by Health Journalist Network Uganda (HEJNU) at Court Lane Hotel in Masaka.…