Health

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), commonly known as autism, represents a broad range of developmental disorders impacting brain function, characterised by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviours. Autism often presents itself in early childhood through diagnosis and may also occur later in life. In Uganda, awareness and understanding of autism remain limited, leading to significant gaps in support and care for affected individuals. According to Florence Namaganda, founder and CEO of Mukisa Foundation and Dawn Children Centre facilities, many parents...

The government has successfully obtained a grant worth $6.8 million from Japan to refurbish the infrastructure at Jinja and Soroti Regional Referral Hospitals. The Exchange of Notes and Grant Agreement was signed today, March 26, 2024, by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Inoue Yoichi (Chief Representative of JICA in Uganda), and H.E Yoshimura Tomotaka (Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Uganda). The grant agreement, valued at JPY 941,000,000, will be utilized for the improvement of medical equipment at the...

The National Medical Stores wants the government to fully foot the bill for medicines by scaling up their budgetary allocation from 537 billion shillings to 2.5 trillion shillings. NMS General Manager Moses Kamabare while appearing before the parliament’s committee on health on March 25, 2024, reviewed that about 60% of medicines supplied are procured using funds from development partners which has left the country at their mercy. According to Kamabare, the committee also questioned why the National Medical Stores continues to...

The Rwampara district leadership, led by RDC Asiimwe Jane Muhindo, launched the construction of a three-in-one staff house at Bugamba Health Centre IV on March 13, 2024, in a move to improve health service delivery in the area. The three housing units will accommodate eight (8) health workers, as the project aims to provide health workers at this facility with accommodation to ensure that they are available to offer health services, especially during emergencies. During the launch, Dr. Cranmer Mugasira, the...

Uganda has received global recognition for its remarkable leadership in implementing effective strategies for Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR). The country's commitment to combating maternal and perinatal deaths has been praised during the 5-day Global Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response Technical Working Group meeting held in Kampala from March 11th to 15th, 2024. Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of Uganda's Ministry of Health, officially inaugurated the event at the Protea Hotel in Kampala. In...

ENT (ear, nose, and throat ) specialists are witnessing a surge in the number of children between the ages of 2 to 12 years experiencing hearing loss. Experts are expressing concern over the rising cases and urging parents to prioritize early detection and appropriate management of hearing-related issues. However, the cost associated with rectifying these conditions is proving to be a significant barrier. Dr. Miriam Mutero Musinga, the general manager of CK IHK, highlighted the growing prevalence of hearing loss...