Uganda’s Kitgum District Battles Dual Burden of Alcoholism and Epilepsy

A health official in northern Uganda has raised alarm over a rise in epilepsy cases among adults, linking the trend to heavy alcohol consumption. Records from Kitgum General Hospital’s mental health unit show the district has registered more than 2,600 epilepsy cases. While childhood illnesses such as severe malaria and untreated febrile convulsions remain common…

Why the HPV vaccine is offered to teenage girls and what parents need to know about it

When it comes to triggering immunity against the leading cause of cervical cancer – HPV – timing matters. 19 September 2025 by Linda Geddes A girl receiving her HPV vaccination from a health worker in Mongolia. Credit: Gavi/2024/Khasar Sandag. HPV vaccine explained: why it’s given before adulthood HPV is highly infectious and predominantly spread through…

Ugandan Firm Seeks $130M for Cancer Drugs After Halting COVID Vaccine Project

The founder of Dei BioPharma has announced the company is seeking $130 million from investors to complete a $1.1 billion investment plan for manufacturing key drugs for non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, and acute kidney failure. Speaking to delegates from the Africa Center for Disease Control (Africa CDC) at the company’s 150-acre facility, founder…

Uganda’s Kitchens a Hotbed for Lung Cancer as Women Suffer from Firewood Smoke

A silent and devastating health crisis is unfolding in Uganda, where an increasing number of women who have never smoked a cigarette are being diagnosed with lung cancer. Doctors at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) have identified a pervasive and overlooked culprit: chronic exposure to smoke from traditional cooking fires. Dr. Najib Bogere, a medical…

8 Beds for 900 Births a Month: Mukono Maternity Ward Faces Overwhelming Demand

A severe crisis at Mukono General Hospital has left expectant mothers giving birth on bare cement floors and recovering there post-delivery, exposing them and their newborns to serious health risks. Administrators have sounded an alarm over the dire conditions, pleading for urgent intervention to restore dignity to patient care. The hospital’s maternity ward is critically…