By Flavia Nassaka Window dressing without real substance On May 14, Davis Mujimu Majwega was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer called Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). A few weeks later, the 18 year old was started on treatment. Since he is insured, his first medical expenses were taken care …
Read More »Know your rights as a patient
By Flavia Nassaka Ask questions and demand answers from your doctor Robinah Kaitiritimba, the Executive Director of Uganda National Health Consumers’ Organisation (UNHCO) is helping those whose rights have allegedly been violated seek justice but she is faced with a tough situation – gathering proof. Earlier in the year, the …
Read More »Insurance body cracks whip
By Isaac Khisa Insurers warn on IRA-U’s new guidelines on health insurance Uganda’s move to introduce new guidelines in the medical segment of the insurance industry are likely to hurt the growth of Health Membership Organizations, as the country moves to streamline their operations. The new guidelines, which came into …
Read More »Caring for patients with very painful, incurable diseases
By Flavia Nassaka Joseph Kanyike tested positive for HIV in 2009. In 2011, the 42-year old was diagnosed with Kaposi’s sarcoma. This is a viral cancer that causes wounds on the skin and inside the body which, in most cases, are impossible to cure. Kanyike’s wound is at the back …
Read More »Elephants return
By Flavia Nassaka Uganda’s elephant numbers increase but conservationists remain wary of poachers Globally, elephants are under threat with the increase in demand for ivory. With estimates showing about 96 elephants being killed every day, global figures indicate that their number has decreased by 62% over the last decade. The …
Read More »Sick country of illiterates
By Flavia Nassaka Reflecting on the country’s advancement in education, healthcare As Uganda marks 53 years of Independence from Great Britain, the country has a lot to celebrate. Key among them is that Ugandans now live longer as life expectancy has increased from 45 years in 1962 to 59 in …
Read More »Tackling next challenge in HIV/Aids treatment
By Flavia Nassaka Experts call for shift from CD4 to Viral load testing, suppression The biggest challenge HIV/AIDS treatment providers face today is achieving and maintaining undetectable levels of HIV in the blood of patients. Dr. Williams Moullado, the HIV monitoring officer at Medecins San Forentieres (MSF), an international medical …
Read More »Meat & cancer
By Agencies Global health experts have found that processed meat such as hot dogs, ham and sausages can cause bowel cancer Red meat is also “probably” carcinogenic, with associations mainly with bowel cancer, but also with pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report. The …
Read More »Uganda launches a Shs33.9 billion mass immunization campaign
By Flavia Nassaka The Ministry of Health together with development partners have earmarked Shs33.9 billion to finance a three day mass immunization exercise due to start on Oct 03. The Acting Manager of Uganda National Expanded Programme for Immunization (UNEPI), Dr. Henry Luzze said in the three day countrywide exercise, …
Read More »You can protect your eyesight
By Flavia Nassaka Even if you work 24/7 with computers Do you work in a medium or large organization with a lot of office based staff? Do most of them use computers for long periods? If so, what proportion of workers wears specs or spectacles, eyeglass or merely glasses if …
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