In many African households, carrying a pot belly is a sign that this person is wealthy and well-fed but that is false | THE INDEPENDENT | One in five adults and one in 10 children and teenagers are projected to be obese by December 2023 in 10 high-burden African countries if …
Read More »COVID-19 takes a heavy toll on women’s health
| THE INDEPENDENT | Disruptions to essential health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic are being felt broadly. As the world marks International Women’s Day March 08, a new World Health Organisation (WHO) analysis finds that women’s health services are far from being fully restored, with 40% of African countries reporting …
Read More »Gulu’s Covilyce-I impresses WHO experts
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Covilyce-1, a polyherbal concoction developed by Gulu University for the treatment of coronavirus disease has received a nod from scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO). The health experts describe the innovation as the right step in the advancement and standardization of African traditional medicine …
Read More »Why NDA has kicked out private pharmacies out of Mulago
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Two private pharmacies that have been operating in Mulago National Referral hospital have been evicted following a directive by Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng to the National Drug Authority (NDA). On Friday, the Health Minister directed NDA to close all private facilities …
Read More »Choosing an HIV prevention method
Study shows why it matters to young African women Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | A new HIV prevention study has found that when young women have access to and experience with two biomedical prevention options, the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring (DVR) and Truvada, an oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug, almost …
Read More »Lab technicians, Health Ministry official clash over promotions
Kisoro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Medical laboratory professionals in government health facilities have clashed with Patrick Mpiima Kibirango, the Registrar of Allied Health Professionals in the Ministry of Health, over their welfare and failure to secure promotions. The matters came up during a scientific conference held at Ikoro Hotel …
Read More »Umbilical cord blood cure for HIV
Woman seemingly cured of HIV shows umbilical cord transplant good alternative to bone marrow transplants | THE INDEPENDENT | A woman in the New York City area appears to be the third person and the first woman ever to be cured of an HIV infection following a new stem cell …
Read More »Treating epilepsy
Shortage of drugs worrying | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | The shortage of medication for the treatment of epilepsy in Uganda is a cause of concern within the Ministry of Health and organisations that cater for patients with the disease. This was revealed by Charles Ayoo Akiya, the commissioner of non-communicable diseases …
Read More »Vaccine manufacture in Africa
How drug industry is undermining WHO plans | TIMOTHY HUZAR | Since June 2021, the WHO has been coordinating a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa. The hub is important because it will increase the availability of mRNA vaccines, including those for COVID-19, in Africa, …
Read More »Makerere agrees to admit bio-medics
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Makerere University Admissions Committee has enrolled 26 out of the 33 students from Biomedical Sciences who appealed for consideration. For about five years, applicants for this course have been struggling to get enrolled. The 26 appealed to the admissions committee to effect a 2018 …
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