Health

Kampala, Uganda  | THE INDEPENDENT |  The Ministry of Health has rolled out free screening and vaccination against hepatitis B in central Uganda. In the past, local leaders and Members of Parliament from Central Uganda have repeatedly petitioned the Ministry of Health demanding for free vaccination against the virus citing prohibitive …

Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Efforts to eliminate the Foot and Mouth Disease-FMD in Sembabule district could fail due to failure to fully enforce a cattle quarantine. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries imposed a quarantine on the district last year following reported cases of FMD. However, …

Scientists advise eating more onions and garlic | THE INDEPENDENT | New research examines the consumption of onion and garlic among women and suggests that the vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer. Onions and garlic are part of the allium genus, along with leeks, chives, and hundreds …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP |  The UN health agency on Thursday declared an international emergency over the deadly coronavirus from China — a rarely used designation that could lead to improved international co-ordination in tackling the disease. “Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries …

David Richmond reports that Uganda and six other African countries will this month sign a political declaration and a legally binding agreement committing them to introduce legislation on tough new criminal penalties. Niger’s government is sounding the alarm about bogus meningitis vaccines – and it is not the first time. …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has said that the using of HIV self-test kits among the key population is high. Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng says while it’s too early to evaluate how many people are using test kits, she says monthly reports to the …

  Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has revealed that as part of the measures to control the spread of the coronavirus they are equipping Entebbe and Naguru regional referral hospitals to handle any suspected cases if they arise. In a press statement, issued on Wednesday …

Wuhan, China | AFP | The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned all governments to “take action” over the SARS-like virus spreading from China that has killed 132 people and infected around 6,000 others. The WHO called an urgent meeting for Thursday over whether the viral epidemic should be declared …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization on Wednesday called a new emergency meeting on a deadly virus outbreak following cases of onward transmission outside China, warning that all governments should “take action”. The meeting of the WHO’s Emergency Committee on Thursday will decide whether to declare an …

China shuts down Beijing, China | AFP | China has enacted extraordinary measures to contain the spread of a new coronavirus that has killed more than 130 people, infected thousands and reached some 15 countries. Here is a rundown of the steps taken so far in an unprecedented effort: – …