New Research Reveals Ongoing Challenges in Diagnosing and Managing Drug-Resistant TB in Six African Countries

New research shows the diagnosis and management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) remains a serious challenge in six African countries. An in-depth analysis of DR-TB data from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger, Senegal, Togo between 2018 and 2022, led by The Union, found that the diagnostic capacity for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) was “globally insufficient”. The study,…

Qure.ai Secures Indian Patent Marking Breakthrough in AI-Powered Lung Abnormality Detection

Qure.ai, a global leader in healthcare AI, has been awarded its 12th patent in India by the Indian Patent Office for “A system and method for detecting lung abnormalities in a medical image.” This milestone marks Qure.ai’s first patent involving a large language model (LLM), underscoring the company’s cutting-edge advancements in medical imaging and AI.…

Breastfeeding Rates Improve in Kampala, But Experts Urge Continued Support for Working Mothers

Experts are raising alarms over a worrying trend in Kampala, where many mothers are abandoning exclusive breastfeeding in favor of alternative feeds as their babies grow. This shift, they warn, poses serious risks to infant health and development. Samalie Namukose, the Assistant Commissioner for Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, addressed the issue during a…

Residents and Health Workers Demand Upgrade of Kabwoya Health Center III Amidst Overwhelming Patient Load and Drug Shortages

Residents and health workers are calling for the elevation of Kabwoya Health Center III, located in Kabwoya sub-county in Kikuube district, to the status of a Health Center IV. This demand stems from the facility’s struggle to cope with the high patient load, which averages between 100 to 150 patients daily, some of whom travel…

New rapid diagnostic tests for cholera a ‘game-changer’ in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s latest cholera outbreak swelled to more than 20,000 suspected cases, but nurses and health leaders say the new, easy-to-use, rapid screening kits will make the fast-spreading infection easier to manage in future. 5 August 2024 by Elia Ntali In the wake of a cholera outbreak that has ravaged both rural and urban communities, Zimbabwe health…

Moroto Hospital and Rotary Club plant over 1000 trees to curb Malnutrition

Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, in partnership with the Rotary E Club of Naguru, has planted 1,200 fruit trees, including mangoes, avocados, guavas, oranges, and jackfruit, around the hospital compound. This initiative aims to address malnutrition and protect the environment from climate change. Dr. Stephen Pande, the hospital’s director, highlighted the rising malnutrition rates among children…

Adolescents and Young Mothers Face Barriers to Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services at Kanara Landing Site, Ntoroko District

Adolescents and young mothers at Kanara landing site, Ntoroko District, are experiencing significant barriers, including stigma and discrimination, in accessing voluntary family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) services. Although self-care interventions have been shown to reduce social barriers to family planning and reproductive health care, little is known about their effectiveness, particularly in low-resource settings.…

Flash Floods in Moroto Municipality Drown Two Children and Cause Big Damage

Two children died, and significant property damage occurred after heavy rains caused flash flooding in Moroto Municipality. The two separate incidents happened on Wednesday following rains that lasted for four hours, causing major rivers in Narwosi and Katanga cells to burst their banks. In Narwosi, two children, Lucia Ilukol and Hellen Aleper, both residents of…

Community Urged to Test for Hepatitis B and C in Kasese District

The community, especially pregnant mothers in Kasese District, is being urged to get tested for hepatitis B and C and seek early treatment if they test positive. Every 28th of July is the World Health Organization-designated International Hepatitis Day, a platform for advocacy, education, and engagement with governments, health professionals, and the public to drive…