From us,
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HEPS-UGANDA@25 conducted community child immunization outreaches in Kayera Sub-county in Kiboga district and Muwangi Sub-county in Kyankwanzi district. During these outreaches, children who had missed the BCG vaccine (against tuberculosis) at birth and the DPT1 vaccine (against whooping cough and tetanus) at two months were immunized with support from the district health teams of Kiboga and Kyankwanzi. Additionally, community members were sensitized to the importance of vaccination. These outreaches were conducted under the Leave No One Behind (LENOBI) project.
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HEPS-UGANDA@25 convened a meeting of the Uganda Coalition on Access to Essential Medicines (UCAEM) which discussed …. critical issues affecting medicine availability particularly of second-line ARVs and dual testing kits and challenges in service delivery of the samples, Youth programs administering PrEP and family planning (FP) services have stalled, with client dropouts increasing due to reluctance to visit overcrowded outpatient departments (OPDs), making follow-ups difficult with.,
From our partners,
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Oxfam Uganda hosted a webinar titled Social Norms – Dispelling Myths and Taking Action, where they shared insights and experiences from Uganda. The discussion centered on real-life experiences related to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), emphasizing the importance of breaking barriers, challenging misconceptions, and transforming harmful social norms to create positive change among adolescents and young adults.
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Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) engaged young people in Kapchorwa in discussions on the Gender Transformative Approach (GTA) and Meaningful Youth and Inclusive Participation (MYIP). The goal was to offer practical insights and guidance on effectively incorporating these approaches into programs and initiatives that advance gender equality and enhance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
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The Makerere University School of Public Health organized a National-Level Dissemination Meeting to share findings from the Women Rise COVID-19 Slum Study. The discussion provided an in-depth analysis of the challenges faced by women in Uganda’s urban informal settlements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using participatory research, the study explored recovery strategies and assessed the pandemic’s impact on women’s livelihoods and their vulnerability to HIV in four informal settlements – Kagugube, Zone 12 Mutungo, Nakwekwe, and Namatala – in Kampala and Mbale cities.
From your community,
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Arua City registers 6 more cases of Mpox: Arua City plans to increase sensitization in areas along the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after six more positive cases of Mpox were reported, barely a week after eight cases were reported on 11 March. Alias Mahmud, the Health Sub-district Surveillance Officer in Arua City told journalists on Monday that one of the major reasons for the rising cases of Mpox is the porous border between Uganda and the DRC.
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CSOs Call for Stronger Sexual and Reproductive Health Policies to Support Women and Girls: Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in West Nile are urging policymakers to take a more proactive role in strengthening Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) policies to improve access to essential services for women and girls. Speaking at the inaugural West Nile SRHR Symposium in Arua City, stakeholders stressed the urgent need to address health and climate challenges that disproportionately affect women and girls. Annet Lekuru, Executive Director of Feminature Uganda, called for the inclusion of women and girls in policymaking, arguing that their participation is crucial to improving services.
From Uganda,
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80% of Cancer Patients in Uganda Die Within the First Year: Cancer remains one of Uganda’s most pressing health challenges, with 80% of patients succumbing to the disease within the first year of diagnosis. Late detection, limited access to specialized treatment, and financial constraints contribute to this alarming statistic, making cancer a growing public health emergency. According to the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), cancer cases are on the rise, with thousands diagnosed each year. Unfortunately, over 75% of cases are detected in advanced stages, drastically reducing survival chances.
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Cancer Treatment rolls out tech to aid diagnosis treatment: The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has unveiled a new technology it says is aimed at advancing cancer diagnosis and treatment in the country. The state-of-the-art facility, known as PET-Centre, is expected to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment introducing cutting-edge services that will elevate cancer care standards not only Uganda, but across Africa. According to UCI, the division to be implemented in two phases is focused at equipping the radiotherapy bunkers and enhancing nuclear medicine capabilities.
From the region,
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Zanzibar warns of outbreak diseases ahead of rainy season: The Zanzibar Ministry of Health has urged citizens to take health precautions and maintain environmental cleanliness to prevent outbreak of diseases expected during the upcoming rainy season. The warning follows a weather forecast by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), which predicts that rains may begin in March and continue until May. Zanzibar’s Minister for Health, Mr Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, stated that seasonal rains in recent years have contributed to the spread of diseases, such as cholera, malaria and typhoid fever, mainly due to water stagnation and poor hygiene.
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Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) eyes to serve Tanzania after Marburg virus scare: The Organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has announced its readiness to collaborate with Tanzania’s Ministry of Health by assisting in combating disease outbreaks if requested. This was revealed today, March 14, 2025, by MSF-Tanzania’s Head, Tommaso Santo, following the official declaration that the country is free from the Marburg virus outbreak. Popularly known as Doctors Without Borders, MSF is a non-governmental organisation of French origin known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases.
Global health security,
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Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever outbreak confirmed in western Uganda: Uganda’s Ministry of Health on Friday confirmed an outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in the western district of Kyegegwa. The laboratory results from samples taken from a 28-year-old male from Kazizi village in the sub-county of Kyatega, who is under isolation at Bujubuli Health Center, tested positive for the fever, the ministry said in a statement. The patient experienced excessive nose bleeding, headache, and general body weakness on 28 February, and sought treatment at a clinic, before presenting himself at Bujubuli health center on 7 March.
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Sweden injects Shs7.3b into Uganda’s Ebola fight: The Government of Sweden has announced new funding of USD 2million (7.3 billion UGX) to respond to the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Uganda. The funding is expected to be utilized by UNICEF for a period of over five months to support immediate priorities of the government of Uganda’s national Sudan EVD plan with a focus on Kampala and districts of Jinja and Mbale.
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Last Ebola patients discharged as MoH starts 42-day countdown to end outbreak: The Ministry of Health has embarked on a 42-day count-down to end the Sudan Ebola Virus outbreak after they announced on Wednesday that they currently have no active cases following the discharge of the two patients who were receiving treatment at Mulago National and Fort Portal Regional Referral hospitals. In a statement, Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services in the ministry revealed that a 55-year-old female from Matugga and a 45-year-old had been discharged after testing negative confirming that they were free from the virus.
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World Health Organization (WHO) held the third meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of Mpox 2024. The Director-General of WHO and the Committee determined that the upsurge of Mpox 2024 continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and, accordingly, on 27 February 2025, issued temporary recommendations to States Parties.
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MSF warns of ‘rapidly spreading’ outbreak as cholera kills 31 in Ethiopia: At least 31 people have died from a “rapidly spreading” cholera outbreak that has sickened more than 1,500 people in Ethiopia’s Gambella region over the past month, according to Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF. The international medical charity stated that the situation has worsened with the arrival of people fleeing violence in neighboring South Sudan. Cholera is an acute intestinal infection spread through food and water contaminated with the vibrio cholerae bacterium, often of faucal origin. It is rapidly spreading across western Ethiopia and in parallel, the outbreak in South Sudan is ongoing, endangering thousands of lives,” MSF said in a statement.
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Trump Administration Considers Scaling Back HIV Efforts at CDC: The Department of Health and Human Services is now considering shutting down the HIV prevention division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and shifting some of its activities to a different agency, according to federal officials. CDC provides funds to states and territories for detecting and responding to HIV outbreaks, prevention, syringe exchange, expanded testing in emergency rooms, and education and awareness. Roughly one in four new diagnoses of HIV is made with the agency’s funds globally.
