Author Archives: Health Journalists Network Uganda

Commonwealth Recognizes Outstanding Contributions in Sustainable Energy and Youth-Led Climate Action

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, three innovators from Uganda—Michael Okao, Darius Ogwang, and Joshua Elem—secured the prestigious Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Award for their groundbreaking solar concentrator. This technology harnesses renewable energy, specifically tailored for clean cooking solutions. The Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with the governments of Fiji and Zambia,…

Medical Bureau Addresses Concerns Over High Charges by Private Not-For-Profit Hospitals

The Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB) has addressed public concerns regarding the high charges imposed on patients by private not-for-profit (PNFP) health facilities, despite receiving an annual government grant. Dr. Tonny Tumwesigye, the Executive Director of the Bureau, explained that many of these hospitals initially relied on donor aid, which has since ceased, leaving a…

Call for FGM Activists to Reconfigure Messages in Effort to Combat the Practice

Phyllis Chemutai, the Woman Member of Parliament for Kapchorwa, has urged activists campaigning against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to reframe their messages in a way that resonates with the community, aiming to discourage the practice. Chemutai expressed this plea during a meeting on Thursday with youth from Sebei and Karamoja sub-regions in Soroti, where various…

Enduring Health Challenges Afflict Over One-Third of Women Post Childbirth

Annually, a staggering 40 million women face the prospect of enduring persistent health issues arising from childbirth, as revealed by a recent study published in the Lancet Global Health journal on Thursday. Part of a specialized series on maternal health, the research underscores the substantial burden of postnatal conditions that linger for months or even…

Alarming Teenage Tobacco Use Peaks in Moroto District

Moroto district has experienced a surge in tobacco consumption among individuals aged 10 and above in the past two years, according to a report released by Makerere University School of Public Health. The study, conducted in three phases between May 2021 and March 2022, enlisted Nadunget Seed Secondary School, Moroto Parents SS, Apostles of Jesus…

UMDPC to Challenge Court Decision Regarding Internship for King Caesar University Medical Students

The Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC) is set to challenge a recent ruling by Justice Musa Ssekaana of the High Court that mandated UMDPC to assign internship placements for 135 King Caesar University graduates. Justice Ssekaana declared that, according to information from the Attorney General, UMDPC lacked authority, as per Section 20 of its…

Activists Campaign For Organic Food To Promote Health and Save Environment

Civil Society actors have collaborated with vendors and market leaders to advance the promotion of organically grown foods, aiming to foster good health and environmental conservation. This collaboration was disclosed on Friday at the conclusion of a three-day training for selected market leaders from Uganda, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, organized by the PELUM Association – Uganda…

Concerns Mount as Oil Pipeline Raises Alarm for Potential Respiratory Health Risks

Experts are expressing worries about a potential rise in respiratory diseases linked to the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. During the second Lung Science and Health symposium, Dr. Charles Ayume, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee, emphasized the risks associated with flaring during oil extraction, leading to lung complications. He stressed the…

Conservation Under Siege: Challenges Posed by Climate Change and Rapid Population Growth

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 Unveils Groundbreaking AI-Powered Reforestation Project at COP28

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.…