Amid the celebration of two decades dedicated to conserving biodiversity through a public health lens, conservationists are contending with mounting issues. The expanding population around protected areas, coupled with the escalating impacts of climate change, casts a shadow over the accomplishments in biodiversity conservation. Led by Dr. Gladys Kalema Zikusoka, a distinguished wildlife veterinarian, and…
AstraZeneca, a leading pharmaceutical and healthcare company, has announced a significant expansion of its AZ Forest programme with a commitment to plant up to six million trees in western Kenya. The initiative, unveiled at COP28, is part of AstraZeneca’s broader global pledge to plant and maintain over 200 million trees across six continents by 2030.…
In a disconcerting revelation, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recently released World Malaria Report for 2023 underscores a surge in global malaria cases, reaching 249 million in 2022, up by five million from the previous year. This figure, now 7% higher than the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, signals a worrisome setback in the fight against…
In Uganda, experts have offered guidance on the optimal timing for conducting DNA testing, emphasizing the imperative of safeguarding the well-being of children should such testing become a necessity. Drawing wisdom from biblical narratives, they invoke the example of Jesus, acknowledged as the son of a carpenter despite not being the biological father of Jesus…
A recent survey by SNV, a non-profit international development organization, exposed that despite the Ministry of Health declaring Alebtong District open-defecation-free in 2019, 13,472 residents there are still practicing open defecation. The district, home to around 300 thousand people, is grappling with a sanitation crisis. The survey data indicates that out of the total population,…
As Uganda readies itself for World AIDS Day on December 1st, the country is confronted with a formidable challenge stemming from a high number of new infections, posing a threat to the goal of ending the epidemic by 2030. Dr. Nelson Musooba, the Director General of the Uganda AIDS Commission, briefed journalists at the government-owned…
The surge in incidences of cancer within the Madi sub-region has ignited concerns among local leaders and experts in public health, underscoring the pressing necessity of addressing this escalating health predicament. Cancer, characterized by the aberrant and unbridled proliferation of body cells, manifests in diverse forms — some leading to the formation of lumps or…
A recent report from the Luwero district has disclosed that no fewer than 1,432 adolescents sought antenatal care at health centers within the last four months after conceiving. The comprehensive analysis, spanning July to October 2023, elucidates that 13 girls below the tender age of 15 and 1,419 girls aged between 15 and 19 availed…
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of children living with HIV who are either discontinuing their medical care or experiencing a rise in viral load shortly after enrolling in school. Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, revealed that a significant 28 percent of HIV-positive children…
The Zombo District People Living with HIV/AIDS Forum has embarked upon a commendable initiative, leveraging the agency of HIV-positive teenagers as peer educators. This strategic move unfolds against the backdrop of a disconcerting surge, with the tally of individuals grappling with the challenges of HIV/AIDS surpassing the formidable threshold of 4,000, as elucidated by the…