Everything you need to know about the brain-eating amoeba that’s killed three children in Kerala

Although deaths from amoebic meningoencephalitis are rare, they could become more common because of climate change. 18 July 2024 By Linda Geddes After three children in Kerala, India, died, and a fourth was infected, the “brain-eating amoeba” Naegleria fowleri is back in the spotlight.  Each year, sporadic cases are reported in hot and humid areas of…

New Bereavement Care Service Launched for Families Grieving Terminal Illness Losses

Families grieving for relatives who succumbed to terminal illnesses can benefit from a new grief and bereavement care service being piloted by palliative care providers. Iddi Matovu, a Public Health Specialist at Kitovu Mobile in Masaka, explained that they embarked on research to support caregivers and relatives after realizing many suffer profound agony and sometimes…

Reliance on Traditional Birth Attendants Drives High Obstetric Fistula Rates in Busoga, Say Gynecologists

Gynecologists have raised concerns that reliance on traditional birth attendants (TBAs) is significantly contributing to the high incidence of obstetric fistula in the Busoga region. Obstetric fistula is an abnormal opening between a woman’s genital tract and her urinary tract or rectum, typically caused by prolonged, obstructed labor. This condition often leaves women leaking urine,…

West Nile Health Workers Benefit from New Electronic Recruitment Hub

Health workers in the West Nile region are sighing with relief following the commissioning of an electronic recruitment system hub for the sub-region. The facility, located at Arua Regional Referral Hospital’s Out Patients Department (OPD) in Arua city, is equipped with six computers, a printer, and a Wi-Fi router. While commissioning the facility on Wednesday,…

Groundbreaking Initiative Targets Illicit Health Products in Kenya and Uganda

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) of Kenya and the National Drug Authority (NDA) of Uganda announced a bilateral initiative involving participation from counterpart agencies in the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union, as well as multinational organizations and the regulated pharmaceutical industry, which aims to combat the illicit trade of health products…

Africa-Europe Partnership to Launch Historic Phase 3 Clinical Trial in Early Pregnancy

The trial will leverage clinical and social research to better serve women of reproductive age at risk of malaria A global consortium plans to undertake a Phase 3 clinical trial assessing antimalarial medicines in women in their first trimester of pregnancy. The trial will evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and cost-effectiveness of antimalarial drugs to…

UNMEB Urges Institutions to Upgrade Skills Labs to Enhance Nursing and Midwifery Training

The Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Examination Board (UNMEB) is urging training institutions to establish permanent and improved skills laboratories. UNMEB believes that this upgrade will enhance training effectiveness and reduce the financial burden of practical examinations. Helen Mukakarisa Kataratambi, the Executive Secretary of UNMEB, emphasized the necessity for institutions to upgrade their skills labs, noting…