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
Malaria vaccine trial results bring fresh hope
With malaria killing close to 800,000 people annually and making tens of millions more ill, the latest results from trials into a vaccine have brought fresh hope. more
Proliferation of private drug dealers ‘affecting health of Ugandans’
The proliferation of private drug dealers is increasingly exposing Ugandans to greater challenges of drug management and usage, reports Kittyo James. more
Increasing cases of libido loss sees many seek alternative remedies
The number of Kenyans seeking treatment for libido problems is on the rise, according to doctors. This is leading many to turn to herbal supplements and remedies but an influx of fake practitioners into the market is causing people to put their health at risk. KC Dnjagi reports. more
Piles of expired drugs discovered abandoned in Mbale district, Eastern Uganda
Piles of expired drugs have been discovered abandoned alongside roads and nearby water streams in Busamaga, Mbale district, Eastern Uganda. more
Mothers in Lira Regional Referral Hospital sleep on floor
Mothers in Lira Regional Referal Hospital, Northern Uganda do not have enough beds to sleep on, reports KC Jentiinora. more
Consumers ‘don’t pay attention to nutrition labels’
From www.bbc.co.uk
Nutrition labels should be placed in the centre of food packaging, rather than in one corner, if shoppers are going to read them, says a US study. go
Ugandan governement to immunise against killer diseases
The Ugandan government is to immunize children against diarrhoea, malaria and tuberculosis by 2015 so as to eliminate the diseases which continue to kill children. more
Congested Zambian prisons ‘compromising security and prisoners’ health’
Zambia’s prisons are congested, which is compromising security and making it very difficult to take care of ill prisoners, the Deputy Commissioner of Prisons has warned. more
Ugandan government ‘must improve’ maternal, newborn and child services, warns NGO
The Ugandan government has been called upon to improve services on maternal, newborn and child care if it is to attain development. The call was made by Leonard Okello of Alliance Uganda during a five day training workshop, which took place in Kampala last week (17 to 21 October, 2011). more
‘Glue ear’ treatment could see ‘end to grommet surgery’
From www.bbc.co.uk
Scientists have identified a potential new treatment for “glue ear” - a common hearing disorder in children - that uses existing cancer drugs. go
Mobile phone brain cancer link rejected
From www.bbc.co.uk
Further research has been published suggesting there is no link between mobile phones and brain cancer. go
Zambia prisons service scales up HIV/AIDS and TB response
Zambia has received a US$1 million grant from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help make its prisons a safer place free of TB, reports KC Mbulo. more
Sweden announces US$300m in increased three-year pledge to the Global Fund
Sweden has pledged to disbursed 2 billion Swedish kronos (about US$300 million) to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for 2011-2013 - an increase of about 11 per cent over its contributions for the previous three years. more
Shs 1.9 billion blood bank for Fort Portal Hospital, Uganda
A 1.9 billion shilling regional blood bank is to be constructed at Fort Portal Referral Hospital following blood scarcity in most hospitals in Ruwenzori region, Uganda. more
US$4.1 billion spent by Global Fund to save 830,000 lives from malaria since 2002
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis Malaria has invested US$4.1 billion since 2002 to fight malaria, helping to save 830,000 lives. more
Bacterium linked to bowel cancer
From www.bbc.co.uk
A type of bacterium known to cause dental decay and skin ulcers may also be linked to bowel cancer, scientists suspect. go
Global conference to tackle social conditions that drive health inequities
Representatives from more than 100 governments around the world, health experts, civil society organizations and other stakeholders converged in Brazil today [19 October 2011] to discuss how social, economic and environmental conditions could be improved to reduce the health gaps within and between countries. more
Uganda needs to re-discover its HIV prevention success story of the 1990s
From www.newvision.co.ug
Uganda which was renowned for having tamed HIV prevalence rates in the 1990s and earned the ‘success story’ tag is experiencing a steady rise in new HIV infections .All this in the backdrop of declining global HIV/AIDS funding. go
The journey to abolish female circumcision
According to statistics, the number of girls that have undergone Female Genital Mutilation has dropped from 621 in 2000 to about 212 in 2008. This is a remarkable feat, even though leaders are on a campaign to have the practice abolished once and for all, amid numerous challenges writes David Mafabi. more
The Global Health Initiative launches in Zambia
The Global Health Initiative (GHI) has launched in Zambia. The initiative pledges 24 million US dollars to programs that help save mothers lives. more
Malaria deaths fall over 20% worldwide in last decade
From www.bbc.co.uk
There has been a fall of just over 20 percent in the number of deaths from malaria worldwide in the past decade, the World Health Organization says. go
Hospital overburdened by none critical cases
Mbale regional referral hospital in Eastern Uganda is being over burdened by cases that could be treated at smaller health centres, a hospital superintendent has said. In an exclusive document obtained by KC Mango, Dr Benon Wanume said all categories of illness, ranging from preventable and none preventable diseases, are being treated at the hospital. more
Leading US cancer research centre to collaborate with Uganda Cancer Institute
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), based in Seattle, America, has forged an innovative collaboration with the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala. more
Enzyme ‘switch’ clue to infertility and miscarriage
From www.bbc.co.uk
Scientists have identified a “fertility switch” protein which appears to increase infertility if levels are too high and fuel miscarriage if too low. go
Alaska set to test patient-priority ‘medical homes’
From www.alaskadispatch.com
A public health care idea that’s caught on in other states will soon be explored in Alaska. Leaders of Alaska’s vast health care system — responsible for everything from disease awareness and prevention to making sure Alaskans have access to clinics and hospitals go
Nodding disease kills 50
From www.monitor.co.ug
Seven years ago, Ms Rufina Lamaji’s last born child Sunday Apiyo, started experiencing symptoms akin to cerebral malaria after a relatively healthy childhood. A few weeks later, Apiyo, now seven, but with the body of a three-year- old child, started experiencing seizures and nodding when given food. go
Hospital casual labourers strike over pay
Causal labourers in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital in Eastern Uganda have gone on strike due to delayed payments of salaries. more
Discrimination and health challenges for the LGBTI community
Thomas (not his real name) was born in a family of six children; five girls with Thomas the only boy. As he grew up he conducted himself as girl, putting on dresses, wearing girl’s shoes and putting on make up … more
Over 20,000 people cannot access health services in Karangura Sub County
Mumbere Musoroza Eustace, the LC3 Chairman for Karangura Sub County, has revealed that more than 20,000 people are unable to access health centers in Karangura Sub County, Burahya County in Kabarole district. more
‘Uncommitted workers, few human resources’ pose major challenge to Ugandan health sector
Richard Rwabuhinga, the district chairperson in Kabarole, Western Uganda has described the district’s health system and the country at large as ‘a misery’ due to a shortage in health workers and a lack of commitment from existing staff. more
Major world conference in Brazil set to discuss reducing health gap
An international conference on the social determinants of health is being held in Rio de Janeiro this week (19 to 21 October 2011). The conference will give governments and stakeholders a forum to agree on a global plan of action to reduce health inequities by addressing their broader causes. more
Cancer survivors may face post traumatic stress
From www.presstv.com
According to scientific findings cancer patients need more psychological support since many of them struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) years after treatment. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that shows up after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event - physical or sexual abuse, war, a natural disaster, or a severe disease. go
Stem cells used to grow liver cells
From www.presstv.com
Scientists have developed a method for growing functional liver cells from a patient’s own skin cells by combining embryonic stem cells and gene therapy techniques. A team of UK researchers has used skin cells of patients suffering from a genetic liver disease - alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency - and successfully transformed them into healthy and functional liver cells. go
Ginger may reduce colon inflammation
From www.presstv.com
Regular consumption of ginger root or its supplements may reduce inflammation in the intestine known to be a precursor of colon cancer. Researchers at the University of Michigan Medical Center say ginger not only makes your food tasty, but may help your gut as well. go
Women should not die giving birth, just as children should not die being born
No woman should die while giving birth and no child should die while being born, says Professor Elywn Chomba. Alliance for Community Action in Zambia (Alliance Zambia) country director Jillian Johannsen says a lot of pregnant women die due to … more
The Global Fund aids fight against malaria in Somalia
The Global Fund states that an estimated two and a half million people in Somalia, already suffering from drought, famine and conflict, are at risk of contracting malaria when the rainy season starts. According to a press release from the … more
Political and religious intervention needed on maternal health, medics say
Medical specialists have said that the ‘level of ignorance’ about maternal and child health in Uganda calls for both political and religious intervention. more
Free medical services come to Rutete Sub County, Western Uganda
The long time complaints by residents of Rutete Sub County, Western Uganda over poor health service delivery seem to be coming to an end, following commencement of free health services by Kitojo Integrated Development Association (KIDA) Hospital. more
Veggies can modify heart disease gene
From www.presstv.com
Following a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may modify the expression of a genetic variant, which significantly raises the risk of heart disease. go
Passionate Ugandan midwife takes her message abroad
From www.guardian.co.uk
A midwife from Katine village in Uganda is fronting a campaign to draw attention to Africa’s high maternal mortality rates and advocate for ways to reduce it. go
28 million Kenyans, majority under 15, at risk of malaria, survey finds
Nearly 28 millions Kenyans live in areas prone to malaria, extensive numbers of which are children under15, according to the 2010 Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey, released this week. more
Fake traditional healers warned
Unlicensed traditional healers have been warned to leave Mitooma district, Western Uganda by its resident district commissioner, reports KC Ssali. more
‘First ever’ fall in global TB
From www.bbc.co.uk
The number of people falling ill with tuberculosis has declined for the first time, according to the World Health Organization. New figures show the global death toll has also fallen to its lowest level in a decade, with major headway made in China, Brazil, Kenya and Tanzania. go
Vitamins linked with higher death risk in older women, study finds
From www.bbc.co.uk
When it comes to vitamins, it appears you could have too much of a good thing, say researchers who report a link between their use and higher death rates among older women. go
UK doctors advised gonorrhoea has turned drug resistant
From www.bbc.co.uk
UK doctors are being told the antibiotic normally used to treat gonorrhoea is no longer effective because the sexually transmitted disease is now largely resistant to it. go
Mbale medics file sent to DPP for legal advice
From allafrica.com
The case file involving six Mbale Regional Referral Hospital health workers accused of negligence of duty and corruption, has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice and appropriate charges before they can be arraigned before court. go
Community facilitators trained on the ‘STAR approach’
Community facilitors (FCs) from Eastern Uganda have been trained to improve their ability to facilitate social mobilization for HIV and AIDS using the ‘STAR approach’. more
Ugandan Mbale Hospital grappling with patients
From www.monitor.co.ug
Although originally meant to handle only complicated referral cases that can not be handled by lower health centre, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital apparently handles even simple cases which has strained its limited facilities. go