Yearly Archives: 2025

Surveillance Gaps and Maternal Deaths Persist in Uganda’s Capital

Public health surveillance across the Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMA) shows troubling disparities, with Kampala persistently lagging in reporting completeness and timeliness. New weekly surveillance data reveals that while Mukono district maintained reporting completeness above 70% and Wakiso hovered between 60–70%, Kampala’s performance averaged below 35%, underscoring ongoing systemic challenges. Mukono’s strong performance points to effective…

Bunyoro Faces Disease Burden from Malaria, TB, and Measles Amidst Gaps in Surveillance Reporting

The Bunyoro Regional Emergency Operations Centre has released its weekly epidemiological bulletin for Week 19 (5th to 11th May 2025), revealing both progress and pressing public health challenges across the region. The bulletin serves as a critical tool for district, national, and global stakeholders to track disease trends, assess health service delivery, and guide emergency…

World Health Assembly Adopts Pandemic Agreement to Strengthen Global Preparedness and Equity

 In a landmark decision, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have formally adopted the world’s first Pandemic Agreement, marking a pivotal moment in global health governance and solidarity. The agreement, approved by consensus at the 78th World Health Assembly, is the result of more than three years of intense negotiations initiated in the…

Six African Nations Commit to Eliminating Deadly Neglected Disease, Visceral Leishmaniasis

In a bold step toward ending one of the world’s deadliest neglected diseases, six African countries—Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan—have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. The commitment was announced during a high-level ceremony held on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly…

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Helen Clark Applaud Historic Pandemic Agreement

The Co-Chairs of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response have welcomed the adoption of a historic pandemic agreement by the World Health Assembly, calling it a crucial step toward a safer and more equitable world. “This agreement, bound by principles of equity and solidarity, recognises that even in uncertain times, the only way…

Uganda Mourns the Passing of Palliative Care Pioneer Dr. Anne Merriman

Hospice Africa Uganda has announced the death of its much-loved and visionary founder, Dr. Anne Merriman, MBE, who passed away peacefully at her home in Munyonyo, Kampala, on Sunday, May 18, aged 90. A tireless advocate for compassionate care, Dr. Merriman’s passing marks the end of an era for both Uganda and the global palliative…

Closing the gap: reaching zero-dose children in Congo-Brazzaville

In Congo-Brazzaville, thousands of children have never received a single vaccine. Why? 15 May 2025 by Brice Kinhou Congo-Brazzaville’s thousands of unvaccinated children may be “missed”, but they’re not forgotten. Many actors – from the Ministry of Health and Population, to CARITAS Congo, alongside many other community-based and international organisations – are working to identify…

Ghana confronts the challenge of financing pneumococcal vaccination after GAVI

The pneumococcal vaccine, introduced a decade ago, has proven its effectiveness. But its price is rising, and with Ghana’s potential transition from Gavi support on the horizon, how can its long-term accessibility be ensured? 19 March 2025 by Claudia Lacave Pneumonia kills 2,000 children per day worldwide and is responsible for 16% of deaths among children…

Global Hunger Crisis Deepens as Record Numbers Face Catastrophic Food Insecurity

Acute hunger continues to rise in Uganda and across East Africa, mirroring a global crisis that saw over 295 million people in 53 countries suffer from severe food insecurity in 2024, according to the latest Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC), released today. In Uganda, over 2.5 million people are estimated to be food insecure,…

A New Foundation to Support Academic Excellence

Created in March 2025, the Fondation pour l’Université de Genève will strengthen the impact of the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in research, education, and community engagement. This private, non-profit foundation aims to mobilise additional resources to accompany the institution’s growth in fulfilling its mission, and to fund ambitious projects that exceed the limits of the…