Betty Koker’s nursing journey began with a childhood tragedy. “I lost my mom… she died after giving birth,” she recalled, her voice calm but firm. “According to my dad, it was due to the negligence of the nurses. And from there, I decided to become a nurse so that I can help people, especially children,…
Summary: Tobacco farming in Uganda has resulted in the loss of trees key to the diets of chimpanzees and baboons, increasing human-primate interactions — and the risk for disease spillover. Reporter Byline: Nakisanze Segawa, GPJ Uganda This story was originally published by Global Press Journal MASINDI, UGANDA — Less than half a kilometer from Aliyo…
Beginnings Fund aims to prevent 300,000 maternal and newborn deaths by 2030 A powerful coalition of global philanthropies has launched the Beginnings Fund, a transformative initiative that aims to prevent over 300,000 maternal and newborn deaths in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Announced at Kanad Hospital in Abu Dhabi, the fund will partner with African governments…
Africa still bears the brunt of the global malaria burden—with 94% of cases occurring on the continent. According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2024 World Malaria Report, approximately two thirds of global malaria cases and deaths are concentrated in 11 African countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger,…
From birth, human survival depends on the ability to engage with others. This ability, which is essential for development, seems to be impaired very early on in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), who show limited interest in social stimuli from their first year of life. To understand the neurobiological basis of this phenomenon, scientists…
In 2023, the World Health Organization updated its recommendation for malaria vaccines to include both the RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M vaccines, representing a historic landmark in malaria prevention with the potential to save tens of thousands of young lives every year. However, to fully realize this potential, vaccine implementation must be accelerated and optimized to ensure access…
Summary: Could the loss of US funding be the catalyst countries like Uganda need to more fully fund their own research — and focus on the continent’s true needs? Reporter Byline: Apophia Agiresaasi, GPJ Uganda Article This story was originally published by Global Press Journal. KAMPALA, UGANDA — As Ebola resurfaced in Uganda earlier this year,…
By Jael Namiganda In a bid to improve health services and delivery across Uganda, experts are calling on the government to strengthen Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems. They argue that CRVS remains under-prioritized despite being a vital component in effective national planning. CRVS involves the official recording of key life events—births, deaths, marriages,…
A new, easier-to-administer and patient-friendly sustained-release formulation of flucytosine, a medicine used to treat cryptococcal meningitis, has entered Phase II clinical trials in Malawi and Tanzania. The trial is being conducted by the not-for-profit research organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and its partners. ‘As HIV funding cuts threaten to undo decades of progress…
As Africa steps up its battle against malaria, a new and unexpected tool is emerging—video games. Ahead of World Malaria Day, Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium, showcased an innovative educational video game that brings complex genetic science to life in an engaging, interactive format. Target Malaria: The Game, launched in late 2024 and demonstrated…