Kasese Struggles to Contain Measles-Rubella Outbreak Amid Funding Crisis

Kasese District is grappling with a measles-rubella outbreak as resource shortages hinder vaccination efforts and community awareness campaigns. At the end of last month, the district confirmed three positive rubella cases, but health officials report no current hospital admissions. The district’s response is heavily constrained due to the suspension of USAID-supported health programs, which previously…

Health Ministry Defends Destruction of UGX 316.7 Billion in Medical Supplies

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has defended the destruction of expired medical supplies worth UGX 316.7 billion, following revelations from the Auditor General’s 2023/24 report. The destroyed supplies included COVID-19 vaccines, antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), testing kits, and other essential medicines. According to Auditor General Edward Akol, this marked a…

Uganda’s Sexual Offences Bill 2024 Expands Liability for Harassment

Reproductive Health Uganda has welcomed the enactment of the Sexual Offences Bill 2024, emphasizing that it expands accountability for sexual harassment beyond employers to include employees. Unlike existing laws, which primarily hold employers responsible, the new legislation criminalizes sexual harassment at all levels, ensuring that both employers and employees can be held liable. Speaking before…

Mbale Hospital Receives $50M Mobile Lab for Ebola Testing

Mbale Regional Referral Hospital has received a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory worth over $50 million from the Russian government to enhance testing capabilities for Ebola and other infectious diseases. Daniel Mwayafu, the Acting Director of the hospital, confirmed the development on Thursday, noting that the Ministry of Health deployed the facility in response to the recent…

Uganda Ebola Health Workers Demand Unpaid Wages Since 2022

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has downplayed the pay demands from health workers involved in the treatment of individuals infected during the 2022 Sudan Ebola virus disease outbreak. The outbreak, which originated in Mubende District, spread to neighboring districts, causing widespread concern. The health workers, under their umbrella organization, the Uganda Medical Association, have expressed…