Weekly Health News Highlights
Food pairing and why it matters: Weekly Health News Highlights (25th November to 1st December, 2024)
Read More »
02/12/2024
The hassle of registering a birth in Uganda
Robert Offiti, a Regional Manager at HEPS-Uganda, a non-profit that is currently championing the scaling up of birth registration under the Voices progamme says it is important for parents to take birth registration seriously.
https://www.independent.co.ug/the-hassle-of-registering-a-birth-in-uganda/
Vaccine doses allocated to 9 African countries hardest hit by mpox surge
The 9 countries are the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda. The largest number of doses – 85% of the allocation – will go to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the most affected country, reporting four out of every five laboratory-confirmed cases in Africa this year.
A common drug may help treat a rare genetic disease
A drug found in almost every medicine cabinet may be a treatment for a rare genetic disease.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/common-drug-treat-rare-genetic-disease
Most households in Uganda still use firewood, charcoal for cooking
Efforts to reduce tree cutting will be in vain if there are no alternative cheaper sources of energy.
Does milk cure ulcers?
Treatment or prevention of ulcers includes lifestyle changes such as stopping to smoke, avoiding taking too much alcohol, stopping the use of the said painkillers and eradication of Helicobacter pylori germs while taking drugs which reduce acid production by the stomach.
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/healthy-living/does-milk-cure-ulcers–4811696
Polio survivors face biggest fight of their lives
Polio was once the most feared disease because of its potentially crippling impact. But many survivors face lifelong late effects and post-polio syndrome
https://www.scidev.net/global/opinions/polio-survivors-face-biggest-fight-of-their-lives/
Why couples should consider screening for genetic disorders before getting married
Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which have high rates of inherited disorders, have led the way by mandating sickle cell testing before marriage, aiming to reduce the prevalence of these conditions and support informed family planning.
Managing meningitis in people living with HIV
The symptoms of cryptococcal infection usually progress gradually over several weeks and may include fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, weight loss, worsening headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting.
https://nation.africa/kenya/health/managing-meningitis-in-people-living-with-hiv-4816850
WHO demands urgent integration of health in climate negotiations ahead of COP29
“The climate crisis is a health crisis, which makes prioritizing health and well-being in climate action not only a moral and legal imperative, but a strategic opportunity to unlock transformative health benefits for a more just and equitable future,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Herbalists in Busoga opt for local remedies to manage mpox
This fear has driven some residents to rely on herbalists offering unverified remedies, creating fertile ground for misinformation about M-pox treatment. Many of these herbalists operate in local markets and at landing sites, gradually earning the trust of community members who may not fully understand the risks associated with the disease.
https://www.independent.co.ug/herbalists-in-busoga-opt-for-local-remedies-to-manage-mpox/
Uganda canvasses African countries to collaborate on vaccine development
The Ministry of Health has called on African countries to collaborate in vaccine manufacturing to prevent a recurrence of the COVID-19 vaccine hoarding that left many nations vulnerable.
