Category Archives: News

Gates Foundation Funds Nearly 50 Projects Advancing Equitable AI Access for Global Health and Development

In a significant step towards addressing global health and development challenges, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has selected around 50 grant recipients to spearhead AI-enabled large language model (LLM) projects. These initiatives are expected to contribute to shaping equitable access to artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), promoting the well-being…

 AI-Supported Mammography Screening Shows Promising Results in Swedish Trial

A groundbreaking interim safety analysis of the first randomized trial investigating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in a national breast cancer screening program has revealed encouraging results. The trial, conducted in Sweden with over 80,000 women, demonstrated that AI-supported screening detected 20% more cancers compared to routine double reading of mammograms by two breast…

Surge in Liver Complications at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor Raises Concerns

St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, located in Gulu City, is experiencing a concerning rise in medical admissions due to liver complications. The medical unit at the hospital has noted a significant increase in cases of liver diseases, primarily cirrhosis of the liver. This condition, characterized by permanent scarring that impairs liver function and may lead to…

Gulu Regional Cancer Center Starts Partial Operation

The Gulu Regional Cancer Centre is a much-needed facility in Northern Uganda, where cancer is a major health problem. The new equipment will help to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients in the region, and it is expected to save many lives. The  Cancer Centre is a major step forward in the fight…

Uganda’s Ministry of Health Proposes Revised National Health Insurance Scheme with Mandatory Annual Contribution for All Adults

The Ministry of Health in Uganda is proposing a revised National Health Insurance Scheme that would require every adult Ugandan to contribute 15,000 shillings annually (about US$4). The original bill, passed by parliament in 2021, was withdrawn by the government due to gaps that needed addressing after consultations with stakeholders. However, concerns have been raised…

95% of Ugandans Unaware of Emergency Number to Call

The survey by Twaweza shows that there are major gaps in emergency medical services in Uganda. Only 5% of Ugandans are aware of a toll-free number to call in case of a medical emergency, and even fewer know of an ambulance that they can call to their village. The majority of people who experience an…

USD 8 Billion Required for Clean Cooking Globally

Nearly one in three people around the world still cook their meals over open fires or on basic stoves, resulting in significant damage to health, living standards, and gender equality. Today, 2.3 billion people rely on charcoal, firewood, coal, agricultural waste, and animal dung as fuel to prepare meals, causing them to breathe in harmful…

UBOS to Roll Out Community Profiling for PDM Programme in Acholi

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) is set to start collecting data for the community profiling module under the Parish Development Model (PDM) program in the Acholi subregion. The exercise will focus on collecting data on available services in all the Parishes across the subregion, such as health facilities, infrastructures, schools, and water sources. This…