Uganda News

Kampala, 7 April 2011-- In Uganda today, there are 150 cases of Multidrug resistant tuberculosis that have been reported in the community. These and more cases are resistant to the recommended anti-TB drugs that include isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and streptomycin.

Kampala, 2nd March 2012 - The Government of Uganda, with support from the World Health Organization and other partners has adopted a multi‐sectoral approach to respond to the Nodding Syndrome that is affecting some districts in the northern part of the country. The Office of the Prime Minister will lead and coordinate the response with aspects such as health handled by the Ministry of Health; nutrition by Ministry of Disaster Preparedness; hygiene and water supply by Minister of Water and Environment; and finance by Ministry of Finance.

Grace Adyero, like many other caretakers in the room hardly says a word or smiles. She only stares blankly at the child lying on the bed with grief written all over her face. Her demeanor and facial expression seem to inaudibly ask “why me?”

“We have been here for two days and now he has rested a bit. It must be the medicine and food they have given him. He was worse at home and we had given up on him ‐ just waiting for him to die one day,” she tells me through an interpreter.

Uganda commemorated World No Tobacco Day with grand activities between 28 and 31 May, 2012, to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and also advocate for the adoption of the Tobacco Control Policy and establishing tobacco control legislation.

Kampala, 30th July 2012:‐ The First International Scientific Meeting on Nodding Syndrome (NS) opened this morning in Kampala, Uganda. Experts from around the world have converged to discuss and find a way forward on a number of issues including a standardized way to define cases of Nodding Syndrome (NS); whether NS is syndrome or a diseases and the association that seems to exist between Onchocerciasis and NS.

Kampala, 1 August 2012 -- The First International Scientific Meeting on Nodding Syndrome (NS) concluded its third day of proceedings by finalizing a standard case definition and identifying critical next steps in a research agenda that will guide future scientific studies.

The WHO Deputy Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti has hailed the Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA) and the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) for the commendable work they are doing in their respective areas of work.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo has called for investment in knowledge and technologies that can deliver proven and cost‐effective interventions to avert the vast majority of health careassociated infections. According to Dr. Sambo, such interventions include implementing system‐wide surveillance, training, education and good communication, appropriate device use, following proper procedures and above all, ensuring optimal hand hygiene practices.

“I will continue to love and serve…”

Few people, if any, would bravely continue to work in situations that nearly ended their lives. This  is more so if the cause of that near death is the dreaded Ebola Hemorrhagic fever!

Kampala, 16th April 2013 -- Uganda formally commemorated World Health Day 2013 with a national function held in Budaka district, Eastern Uganda. The commemoration under the theme “High Blood Pressure: A silent killer” was presided over by the Minister of Health Dr Christine Ondoa.