Health
KCs report the pitfalls and successes of national, local and community-based health initiatives such as immunization and blood donor schemes.
The impact diseases such as malaria, cancer, rubella, tuberculosis and malnutrition have on individual lives and communities are also documented as are outbreaks of diseases such as hepatitis B.
Of particular relevance for KCs is the impact co-infection has on the lives of individuals, families and communities.
The stigma, myths, rumours and attitudes those living with various health issues face is also documented.
Budaka lacks toilet facilities - report
From www.monitor.co.ug
At least 48,000 households in Budaka District do not have pit-latrines, posing a health risk, a report has revealed. According to statistics from the health department for last year, the district health inspector, Mr Robert Ochola, said 72,000 people in Budaka have access to pit-latrines. go
Multi-cancer drug to be tested
From www.telegraph.co.uk
A new drug that attacks a variety of different cancers by starving tumours of blood is to be tested in a human trial. The drug, called L-NNA, could help treat a number of solid tumour cancers such as those of the bowel, breast or lung. go
Ten-man medical team to handle Kumi Siamese twins
From www.newvision.co.ug
KAMPALA - Mulago Hospital has assembled a team of ten medical experts to handle the Siamese twins recently born in Kumi district, the hospital’s spokesperson Dan Kimosho has said. go
Health ministry starts nationwide cancer drive
From www.newvision.co.ug
Uganda’s Ministry of Health has started a national Cervical Cancer Immunization campaign after satisfactory results in the districts of Ibanda and Nakasongola, where they started pilot projects in 2008. go
Hepatitis b outbreak in the Serere district, Eastern Uganda confirmed
The Uganda Virus Research Institute, based in Entebbe, has confirmed a hepatitis B outbreak in the Serere district, Eastern Uganda. more
People ‘banned’ from neighbouring communities due to hepatitis B fear
Disturbing reports reveal that neighboring communities have restricted people of Okidi from free movement into their areas after two people from Okidi were diagnosed with the hepatitis B virus. more
Uganda health ministry starts nationwide cancer drive
From www.newvision.co.ug
Uganda’s Ministry of Health has started a national Cervical Cancer Immunization campaign after satisfactory results in the districts of Ibanda and Nakasongola, where they started pilot projects in 2008. go
Breast cancer link to small amount of alcohol
From www.bbc.co.uk
Regularly drinking even a small quantity of alcohol could increase the risk of breast cancer, say researchers. go
Prostate cancer screening ‘may do more harm than good’
From edition.cnn.com
The recent news that a group of highly respected medical experts, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, is considering advising against routine prostate cancer screening shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise to anybody. Indeed, the fact that so many people now are claiming to be surprised is an interesting story. Many respected organizations that issue screening guidelines have for a long time expressed concern about the effectiveness and known risks of screening for prostate cancer. go
Syphilis resurgence puts pregnant women and their babies at risk
Syphilis is re-emerging as a common sexually transmitted infection in many developing countries, putting pregnant women and their babies at risk, reveals a World Health Organization (WHO) journal. more
Breast cancer risk: it’s not all in the family
From www.newvision.co.ug
Women do not automatically have a higher risk of getting breast cancer just because someone else in the family has tested positive for breast cancer genes, U.S. researchers said on Monday (31 October 2011). go
‘Prevention is at the heart of public health but equity is its soul’ - Dr Chan, WHO
Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has described prevention and equity as ‘the heart and soul’ of public health, at the WHO’s executive board special session in Geneva, Switzerland today (1 November, 2011). more
The six most common sexually transmitted infections
From redpepper.co.ug
Syphilis is just one of more than a dozen nasty sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, that take advantage of the joy of sex to spread their special misery. Along with gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, genital herpes, human papillomaviruses (HPV), and HIV, syphilis is one of the six most common STDs. go
Spider venom ‘could help treat breast cancer’
From redpepper.co.ug
Venom from funnel-web spiders and tarantulas could be used to kill breast cancer cells, Australian researchers say. go
Glowing brain tumour trial begins
From www.bbc.co.uk
The idea of making brain cancers glow to help surgeons operate is being tested in the UK. go
Hospital bans herbalists after two women die during labour
Authorities have prohibited traditional healers and birth attendants from Masaka Regional Referral hospital in Uganda following the death of two women who died during labour last week. more