MOH takes World Sickle Cell Day commemoration to Jinja amidst vital drug shortages

As the Ministry of Health (MOH) readies to commemorate the World Sickle Cell Day in Jinja on Friday, children battling the hereditary blood disorder in Busoga grapple in pain amidst stockouts of hydroxyurea, a wonder drug for reducing painful crises and other complications. Hydroxyurea was recently added to the essential medicines list and government announced…

Authorities Blame Lopeikiret Dance for Rise in Teen Pregnancies, Early Marriages

Rising cases of teenage pregnancies and early marriages in Amudat District have been linked to the annual Lopeikiret courtship dance, with authorities warning that the cultural practice is exposing girls aged 13 to 18 to early sexual activity and forced marriages. District leaders and health workers say the dance, held between October and December among…

Local Languages Improve Trust in Health Information

Health communication is most effective when people receive, understand, and trust information in the language they use in everyday life. Across Africa and many low-resource settings, a significant proportion of the population has limited proficiency in official languages such as English, French, or Portuguese. Consequently, health messages delivered only in these languages may fail to…

Sexuality Education Key to Reducing Unsafe Abortions

Health workers are calling for expanded age-appropriate sexuality education for girls, saying it could help reduce the high number of unsafe abortions reported in Uganda. Speaking at a Media Café organized by the Health Journalists Network Uganda (HEJNU), Joyce Najjemba, a nursing officer at Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, said the hospital’s emergency department…

One test, three diseases: New antenatal screening tool strengthens maternal and child health in Africa

Seychelles and Eritrea have become the first countries in Africa to adopt Abbott’s integrated Determine™ Antenatal Care (ANC) Panel, a rapid screening tool designed to support the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. The move marks an important step towards achieving the World Health Organization’s (WHO) triple elimination targets and addressing…