Researchers at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) are embarking on a study that could bring to life Uganda’s first vaccine against schistosomiasis, or bilharzia. Dr. Moses Egesa a researcher based in the MRC/UVRI research unit said in an interview on Monday that they will be infecting healthy volunteers with the bilharzia-causing worm to develop…
The Ministry of Health has called for domestic funding for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) as prevention and treatment programs that are entirely being funded by donors are nearly ending. Speaking at a meeting held on Wednesday to mark the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, which is marked globally in January, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth…
Uganda’s maternal mortality rating has decreased from 336 mothers per 100,000 live births to 284 women per 100, 000 live births, the Ministry of Health reports. While Uganda has not yet conducted a new health demographic survey, according to Dr Charles Olaro, the Director of Health in charge of Curative Services, the Ministry has been…
Residents in Karamoja sub-region are resorting to eating leaves from wild trees as they burn charcoal for survival as hunger continues to dog their region. The residents say the ongoing drought has worsened the hunger situation forcing them to resort to environmentally degrading activities to survive, hence consuming the tree leaves as they fell for…
Aerosol forecasts from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service show the first large-scale Saharan dust transport of 2023. An episode of a long-range Saharan dust transport has been crossing the Iberian Peninsula and will continue across France towards northern and central Europe in the coming days. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) is tracking the long-range…
A single dose of a low-cost, generic, oral antibiotic called azithromycin, could prevent life threatening sepsis during child birth in up to 2 Million women per year a study shows. In a randomized, placebo-controlled study published in the New global maternal health research on February 9th, 2023, researchers found that a single 2-g oral dose of azithromycin given…
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…
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…
There is a need to clamp down on the formula milk industry’s marketing tactics which are exploitative, this is according to a new three-paper series published in The Lancet. The paper points out industry influence which includes lobbying against vital breastfeeding support measures as one of the ways they are using to jeopardize the health and rights…
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,…