A single-dose oral treatment for sleeping sickness is pushing Africa closer to eliminating one of its most persistent tropical diseases. After decades of complex and often dangerous therapies, a three-tablet, one-day cure could allow health workers to diagnose and treat patients in a single visit. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY …
Read More »Equatorial Guinea’s high-tech push to end malaria by 2030
If the strategy succeeds, the small nation on the west coast of Central Africa, could become a test case for malaria elimination NEWS ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | In the humid equatorial belt of Central Africa; where dense forests, heavy rains and winding rivers create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, malaria …
Read More »Breakthrough sickle cell gene therapy a distant hope in Africa
Advocates stress that while gene therapy is causing a buzz in wealthy countries, African governments must prioritise prevention, screening and accessible treatment NEWS ANALYSIS | JOHN MUSENZE | As Uganda rolls out mandatory nationwide screening of newborns for sickle cell disease this month, a gene therapy celebrated in the United …
Read More »New study reveals prostate cancer genetics
Findings could improve screening and treatment for patients of African ancestry HEALTH REPORT | THE INDEPENDENT & AGENCIES | Scientists have identified variants of five genes linked to aggressive prostate disease or to cancer that spreads, or metastasizes, to other organs in males of African ancestry. The study was published …
Read More »Are you physically fit?
Maintaining a good level of physical fitness is important. However, it can be difficult to determine what fitness entails. Various components of physical health can help determine physical fitness. Kampala, Uganda | AGENCIES | Experts define physical fitness as “one’s ability to execute daily activities with optimal performance, endurance, and …
Read More »UPDF sets up committee for disease surveillance
KAMPALA, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | The army has inaugurated a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), an initiative designed to enhance disease surveillance and bolster the military’s readiness to respond to emerging health threats. SAC has been set up with the help of Prof Dr Moses Joloba, Prof Denis Byarugaba, Prof …
Read More »🟥 DR Congo on ‘maximum alert’ over unknown disease
KINSHASA | Xinhua | The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is on “maximum alert” over the emergence of an unknown disease that has killed more than 70 people, said DRC Public Health Minister Roger Kamba on Thursday. The test results to confirm the characteristics of this disease are expected …
Read More »Blinding disease affecting premature babies
Lack of information and screening affects Retinopathy of Prematurity treatment Mbale, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a potentially blinding eye disease affecting premature infants, remains a significant healthcare challenge in Uganda. ROP occurs when abnormal blood vessels develop in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back …
Read More »Experts worried about high rates of medical errors
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A Non-Communicable Diseases Researcher at the Makerere University School of Public Health has expressed an urgent need to address the high rates of medical errors that exist in the healthcare system. Dr Geofrey Musinguzi who has just recovered from rectal cancer reveals doing numerous …
Read More »Monkeypox: Uganda on guard against disease
WHO offers 2,400 rapid test kits ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | The World Health Organisation (WHO) has provided Uganda’s Ministry of Health with a set of 2,400 test kits to strengthen the country’s response to Monkeypox through rapid laboratory identification of cases. These kits are among the first Monkeypox laboratory tools received …
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