Lira Hospital Gets First Microbiology Laboratory

Lira Regional Referral Hospital has received its first microbiology laboratory and equipment to support the investigation of bacterial infections particularly those that have shown resistance to common antibiotics. The hospital, which receives over 1,000 out patient attendances and 100 admissions on a daily basis has been referring its clients to Kampala for advanced tests because…

West Nile Gets Modern Laboratory to Fight Zoonotic Disease

Uganda’s West Nile region has received a refurbished modern laboratory to enable veterinary officers to handle zoonotic diseases and emerging infectious diseases in animals in the sub-region. The facility which is located along Arua-Lia road in Arua was refurbished and equipped with the support of the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and funding valued at 413…

No new COVID-19 variants have emerged during China’s recent outbreak, analysis of cases in Beijing suggests

No new COVID-19 variants have emerged in China during the recent surge in infections since the country ended its zero-COVID policy, according to an analysis of cases in Beijing. The study, published in The Lancet, suggests two existing Omicron sub-variants, BA.5.2 and BF.7 – among the most dominant variants in Beijing during 2022 – accounted…

Pastor Kayanja’s Acaricide Adulterated with Banned Chemicals

An investigation by the National Drug Authority (NDA) has found Tickoff, an acaricide produced by Pastor Robert Kayanja of Miracle Center Cathedral and two colleagues to be adulterated with chemicals that have since been banned. According to Abiaz Rwamwiri, NDA’s Public Relations Officer, the product which has been distributed in districts of Kiruhura, Lyantonde, Sembabule,…

Newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy leads to more children being able to walk at two years post diagnosis, new study suggests

Newborn screening (NBS) for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), when combined with early treatment, results in better movement ability in affected children, including the ability to walk, when compared to children who are diagnosed once symptoms develop, suggests a new study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal. SMA is a rare, genetic neuromuscular…

Kiruddu hospital starts research to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance

Kiruddu National Referral Hospital has started conducting operational research for every patient first conducting confirmatory tests to find out, which infection and sensitivity of the organ they have before prescribing a drug that specifically treats the kind of infection. While this should be basic practice for any health worker, Charles Kabugo, the Hospital Executive Director…