At least 60 refugees committed suicide in refugee settlements across Uganda last year, according to a report by UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. Hanging by a rope, poison and drug overdose are the leading methods used by the victims of suicide in the settlements. Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement in Kamwenge District recorded the highest number of suicides…
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting a 10-day door-to-door vaccination drive in districts that recorded cases of Ebola virus disease in the latest outbreak. The exercise which will be going on until January 30, will be conducted in Kassanda, Mubende, Mukono, Kampala and Wakiso Districts. It will target children below five years of age,…
The Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) have cited constant concerns of illegal blood sales as one of the reasons given by some possible blood donors for not taking part. Michael Mukundane, the Coordinator for the National Blood Bank said despite increased awareness and change in blood collection strategy from mainly targeting schools, they continue to…
Experts have said the speed at which the coronavirus is mutating giving rise to new and more transmissible variants is very worrying. This they say could soon render vaccines currently in circulation useless if nothing is done to improve them. Rachel Achilla, a technical officer Laboratory, Emergency, Preparedness, and Response Program at the WHO Regional…
A large-scale HIV vaccine efficacy study also known as the Mosaico study has been stopped for non-efficacy. This study which has been taking place in several countries in North and South America and Europe sought to test the safety and efficacy of the adenovirus26-based vaccine regimen among 3,900 cis-gender men and transgender individuals who have…
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has unveiled plans to speed up the licensing and use of effective novel vaccines against tuberculosis (TB), the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 and the 13th leading cause of death worldwide. TB, also known as consumption, is caused by bacteria that mostly affects…
The persistent vandalism of the incinerator at Walukuba health center IV incinerator in Jinja district has raised concern among health workers. The bricks meant to enclose the incinerator from direct exposure to the surrounding communities were dismantled before being stolen between December 2022 and early January 2023. The chimney which would limit exposure to poisonous smoke…
Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA has dispatched seven ambulances to the five city divisions worth Shillings 1.6 billion with the aim of improving emergency medical services. Dr. Daniel Okello, the Director of Public Health at KCCA told journalists at City Hall on Monday that they procured Ambulances, which include 6 type B for basic life support and 1…
Health workers are questioning a move by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to charge them an annual fee of 100,000 Shillings in stamp duty. The tax came into force in 2022 with the amendment of the Stamp Duty Act. According to Dr. Katumba Ssentongo, the Registrar of the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC),…
After a decade of not accessing Yellow fever vaccines through the Public sector, residents of Lira district are excited about a new delivery made by the Ministry of Health. On January 7th, 2023, the Ministry delivered 412,320 doses of Yellow Fever Vaccines. The district last conducted yellow vaccination in 2010. The vaccines will be used during the…