Following the death of a patient suspected to have suffered and died from Rift Valley fever, the Arua City Health Officer has advised the community against managing infectious diseases in clinics. The patient passed away after experiencing general body pains, fever, and bleeding for several days. Dr. Pontius Apangu, the Arua City Health Officer, revealed…
A groundbreaking study has demonstrated the effectiveness of a two-dose hepatitis E vaccine during an outbreak in South Sudan, providing a potential lifeline for populations in crisis. The research, led by Andrew Azman, an epidemiologist at the UNIGE-HUG Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and Johns Hopkins University, highlights the vaccine’s ability…
Jimmy Osuret, a Research Associate at the Trauma, Injuries, and Disability Unit (TRAID) at Makerere University, has found that strategically placing traffic wardens in school zones significantly improves children’s safety. Presenting his findings during his PhD defense at the Makerere University School of Public Health auditorium, Osuret revealed that wardens increased safe road-crossing behavior among…
Drivers from Ireland have raised over €107,000 (more than 400 million Ugandan shillings) to promote palliative care in Uganda. Palliative care focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and suffering caused by serious illnesses, aiming to improve the quality of life for patients by addressing their physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs, rather than attempting…
Members of Parliament on the Health Committee have identified the lack of motivation among health workers as a critical barrier to improving health service delivery in Uganda. This concern arose during the committee’s meeting with officials from Moroto, Soroti, and Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospitals, who presented their budget framework papers for the 2025/2026 financial…
The government has proposed a smaller national budget for next financial year than the current, but it’s appropriation is raising discomfort. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in its National Budget Framework Paper is proposing a total resource envelop of 57.441 Trillion shillings for the financial year 2025/2026. Fair, compared to the 52…
When lab tests confirmed an outbreak of a highly virulent virus in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, health minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana knew he had to think outside the box. 13 January 2025 by John Agaba When blood samples tested positive for Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Rwanda’s capital Kigali on 27 September, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the country’s…
An NGO facilitating free heart surgeries for Ugandan children in India has called on the government to implement initiatives to alleviate the financial burden families face when seeking specialized care unavailable locally. George Ntambi, Executive Director of Action for Disadvantaged People (ACDIPE), said the organization relies heavily on donations from individuals and corporate sponsors to…
Lamwo District has suspended all market operations in Agoro Sub-county, including weekly and monthly markets, to curb the ongoing cholera outbreak. The decision, effective immediately, follows the confirmation of cholera cases in the area last week. Williams Komakech, the Lamwo Resident District Commissioner and Chairperson of the District Cholera Taskforce, announced that the ban will…
An outbreak of measles has been confirmed in Nakapiripirit, Amudat, and Nabilatuk districts, affecting mainly children aged between 6 months and 10 years. The airborne disease spreads through contact with infected individuals or respiratory droplets. In Nabilatuk, 111 cumulative cases have been recorded since August 2024, with most patients recovering, but at least two deaths…
The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has raised concerns over the government’s obstruction of their efforts to facilitate the export of doctors to countries like the United Kingdom, Poland, and the United States, despite the high demand for their services abroad. UMA President Dr. Herbert Luswata expressed frustration over the association’s inability to establish a labor…
One person has been confirmed dead, and 30 others have been admitted following a cholera outbreak in Lamwo District. According to Dr. Denis Ocula Omoya, the Lamwo District Health Officer, the outbreak has been reported in five parishes in Agoro Sub-county. Of the 30 confirmed cases, 27 patients are currently admitted at Agoro Health Center…
For years, Grace Achola, a 48-year-old businesswoman in Omiya-Anyima village, Kitgum District, did not think about her blood pressure. At 43, she was focused on her career and raising her children. However, during a routine business trip to Lira City, she was rushed to the hospital, where tests revealed she had consistently high blood pressure.…
The Rotary Past District Governor and Vision Bearer of the Cancer Centre at Nsambya Hospital, Stephen Mwanje, says the complex is on track for completion by 2027. Mwanje made the remarks during the launch of the 14th edition of the Rotary Cancer Run, scheduled to take place on August 31 at Kololo Independence Grounds. The…
New research highlights the importance of disease prevention during the first three years of life. 9 January 2025 by Linda Geddes Children who are exposed to frequent infections during early life – including common colds and stomach bugs – may be at greater risk of moderate to severe illness and antibiotic use in later childhood, data…