At the pronouncement that it was Ebola that his colleague had succumbed to, Dr Madira says he began ‘counting coffins’ in his house. " I had treated my neighbour every day. I visited her home twice a day. I sat on her bed. Checked her temperature. I knew I was next."
Bwera Hospital hosts the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) in Kasese district, an area that shares a common border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country which has battled the worst outbreak of Ebola for more than a year.
The Hepatitis virus, most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids, can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
According to Henry Mwebesa, the Director General Health Services, this week 12 new cases of cholera were investigated and found positive among patients who reported to Nabulola Health Center Ill and Dubani Mission hospital in Busia district.
According to the health ministry, an increase in the number of men opting to get vasectomies as family planning method has been noted. The increase is being noted in mostly the Western and Central part of the country
Prof Pius Okong, the Chairperson of the Health Service Commission says that they have embarked on a validation exercise to ascertain the number of people employed by the Ministry after realizing that there was no detailed information about some of the people who are paid salaries off the Ministry’s vote.
Grace Kiwanuka, the Executive Director of Uganda Healthcare Federation told Uganda Radio Network that having the scheme working could take us decades but the government needs to urgently inform the community that free healthcare is not tenable.
Dr Ekwaro Obuku warns that sponsored research sometimes tend to focus on the needs of the funder and not the population. He explains that a lot research has been done especially studies but they are never rolled out for general use.
Dr. Solome Okware, the Technical Advisor Policy at the Infectious Diseases Institute in Makerere University, notes that Uganda has heightened its capacity building efforts in coordination, social mobilization, surveillance and case management since the Ebola hemorrhagic fever broke out in the neighboring DR Congo, which can be used to strengthen health systems.
Christopher Otim, a third year student at Makerere University who URN found at the SMC clinic at the University Hospital, says he has not undertaken circumcision due to the fear of the unknown. He is however willing to escort friends to carry out the procedure.
The prize honors individuals with outstanding achievements in the field of medical research and medical services to combat infectious and other diseases in Africa.
Dr. Ekwaro Obuku, the President Uganda Medical Association, says they asked the specialists from Makerere, Mbarara and Busitema Universities to volunteer and work in the hard to reach areas for at least three years.
Dorcus Akome, the female District councillor for Agikdak Sub County, says she has received several complaints from mothers who go the health facilities for either Antenatal Care or delivery
Economic Policy Research Center fellow Tonny Odokonyero said they found that its more cost effective to implement IRS using structures at the district level than using project structures. To arrive at this, they analyzed data on activities sponsored by the American funded President’s Malaria’s Initiative and the activities that were conducted by the Malaria Control programme at the Ministry of Health and found a huge difference in costs.
Dr. Betty Kyaddondo, the Director of Family health at the National Population Council, says Ugandans need to plan better for their families. "The way things look now, Uganda will not be able to meet its 2040 goal or even become a middle income country. The biggest population is made up of dependents, children or youths. They are an expense that needs looking after. Instead of saving and reinvesting into the economy to allow development, money is being spent on children. The more children or dependents, the more money one spends,” she said.
Okuonzi who was speaking at a symposium held to assess the strides the country has made towards attaining universal health coverage in Kampala on Tuesday said studies have shown that even as governments like Uganda have resolved to offer free healthcare, health is a personal duty and that even if there’s solidarity by policymakers to provide health services, it has nothing to do with how one maintains their own health.
The solar panels were donated by the Ministry of Health in partnership with Doctors with Africa CUAMM Uganda under the Light Every Birth (LEB) program, a nationwide campaign.
Through their umbrella organization, the National Forum for People Living with HIV/AIDS Network in Uganda-NAFOPHANU, they want the government to start providing them with care for other health-related diseases like diabetes and depression.
