HEPS-Uganda@25 Joins Advisory Meeting on AMR with Ministry of Health and Makerere IDI

From us,

• HEPS-UGANDA@25 participated in an Advisory meeting for the Ministry of Health with Makerere University Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) on 11 March, aiming to discuss the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) consumption/Usage data produced from healthcare facilities and the Strategic Plan on AMR.

• HEPS-UGANDA@25 participated in a weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance (PF-AMR), whose purpose was the continued support for the operationalization of the forum. The PF-AMR is an advocacy and oversight platform established with support from the Fleming Fund’s Country Grant II under the Baylor Uganda consortium of implementing partners, which include HEPS-Uganda.

• HEPS-UGANDA@25 took part in the Ministry of Health’s RMNCAH+ (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health, Nutrition, and Aging) and quarterly members’ technical working group meeting, where we led the media review to refine the RMNCAH+ plan and assessment of upcoming activities.

• HEPS-UGANDA@25 was featured in the Daily Monitor newspaper on March 13th, highlighting the potential impact of USAID funding cuts on 29,000 health jobs, with a quote from our Executive Director Mr Kenneth Mwehonge saying, “We are calling for an emergency supplementary appropriation by parliament to close the severe gaps and ensure uninterrupted access to evidence-based and human rights supporting testing…”

From our partners,

• Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) conducted a two-day northern region refresher training in Gulu City. The activity aimed to empower the District Health Centre to effectively address human rights violation cases at the district level, facilitating knowledge sharing and empowering them in their mandate to eliminate all barriers to the realization of human rights and access to HIV and TB services.

• Share your work at the Triple Elimination Conference in Africa 2025: The call for abstracts is open. The National Organisation for People Living with Hepatitis B is collaborating with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the African Union Commission to convene the conference, with the aim of fostering innovative approaches, sharing best practices, and strengthening regional partnerships to achieve the triple elimination goals. The conference will be held from 21-23 July, in Kampala, Uganda.

• ‘Trump overstepped his constitutional authority in freezing Congress’ funding for USAID’: President Donald Trump overstepped his constitutional authority in freezing almost all spending on US humanitarian and development work abroad, a federal judge ruled, saying the administration could no longer simply sit on the tens of billions of dollars that Congress has appropriated for foreign aid — Associated Press, 11 March 2025

• The World Health Organization announces a new collaborating center on AI for health governance: The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Digital Ethics Centre at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands as a WHO Collaborating Centre on artificial intelligence (AI) for health governance. AI has the potential to reshape health care, save lives, and improve health and well-being. However, harnessing its benefits for good requires collaboration from stakeholders committed to robust governance, ethical safeguards, and evidence-based policies.

• Oxfam Uganda convened a virtual meeting 13 March, focusing on advancing sexuality education for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda. The discussion focused on how to improve sex education, addressing challenges, such as societal stigma, policy gaps, and resource limitations. Participants explored innovative approaches to empower young women with accurate information, promote reproductive health rights.

From your community,

• Fort Portal heightens measures to curb the spread of Ebola. Fort Portal City and Kabarole District leaders have announced measures to contain the spread of Ebola. Currently, six suspected Ebola patients are admitted in the Isolation Unit at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, awaiting results from their samples that were taken to the Uganda Virus Research Institute. They are contacts of a person who died from Ebola in Ntoroko District.

• Unsafe abortions surge at Kigungu landing site. In the shadows of Uganda’s fishing villages, a silent crisis unfolds—one that claims lives and exposes deep-rooted inequalities. At Kigungu Landing Site, unsafe abortions are a daily reality, driven by poverty, stigma, and lack of healthcare. This pressing issue highlights the critical need for enhanced reproductive health services and support for marginalized populations. In Uganda, unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal deaths, accounting for 26% of fatalities, according to the Ministry of Health.

• Cervical cancer prevention gains ground in the Bunyoro region: A resident of Nalweyo subcounty in Kakumiro District shared her struggle in accessing timely cancer services, She stated that she had to walk long distances due to no nearby health centers that offer cervical cancer screenings. However, with the help of a health training organized by Uganda Rural Development and Training, the people of Bubango Subcounty Kibaale district received cancer screening and education and awareness.

From Uganda,

• Health Ministry dispatches 2 million doses of malaria vaccine: The Ministry of Health has flagged off the distribution of 2.278 million doses of malaria vaccines to 105 districts with high and moderate transmission of the disease. The consignment is part of the total quantity of 3.5 million doses that are being planned to be used for the initial phases of the vaccination, which will later roll out in other parts of the country after kicking off in selected districts next month. The vaccine targets children below two years of age, and once vaccinations start in April, it will be the largest malaria vaccine introduction to date in terms of the number of districts and target population. The four-dose vaccine will be administered at 6, 7, 8, and 18 months, ensuring optimal protection from malaria during the most vulnerable stages of early childhood.

• MPs raise alarm over Mulago’s exorbitant charges: Lawmakers have raised alarm over reports of exorbitant charges at the private section of Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital. In the Government health facility, cesarean section is billed UGX2 million; anesthesia UGX890,000; antenatal care UGX800,000; and normal deliveries UGX800,000.

• US foreign aid freeze, Counting the cost for Uganda. Uganda will lose about 350 million dollars (Ugx 1.29 trillion) if sweeping executive orders to freeze foreign aid by US President Donald Trump are fully effected. This is the total amount that has been contributed every year by the US through PEPFAR. It also represents 55% of the total funding available in the fiscal year 2025. Part of the 1.29 trillion Ugx has been used to pay salaries for health workers, the Managing teams at PEPFAR programs, development partners, and Managing NGO work.

• Malaria: The Ministry of Health advises on planting rosemary: Health Ministry officials have advised residents of Arua City to invest in mosquito-repellent plants as a cost-effective strategy to reduce malaria prevalence and treatment expenses.

From the region,

• Tanzania reports its first MPOX case. Tanzania has confirmed its first two cases of Mpox, as confirmed by the Tanzanian Ministry of Health. Two individuals exhibiting symptoms were isolated and tested. Among the suspects was a truck driver who had traveled to Dar es Salaam, says Minister of Health Jenista Mhagma. A report by the African Union’s health agency states that 6034 cases of Mpox have been confirmed since January in 22 countries, resulting in 25 deaths.

• Erectile dysfunction affects more Kenyan men in their 40s: A growing number of Kenyan men in their 40s are seeking medical assistance with erectile dysfunction. This, medical professionals say, is largely influenced by the demands of modern life, the prevalence of chronic health conditions, and the weight of psychological pressures that many men face today.

• The Government of Tanzania strengthens surveillance and precaution against Mpox outbreak. The government of Tanzania has intensified surveillance and precautionary measures against Mpox after confirming two cases within the country. The Minister for Health, Ms Jenista Mhagama, urges citizens to adopt preventive measures, including avoiding handshakes, kissing, and embracing individuals exhibiting Mpox symptoms.

Global health security

• Ebola Case Confirmed in Fort Portal Amid Rising Fears: A case of Ebola has been confirmed in Fort Portal City, heightening concerns among residents. The patient, a resident of Kyegegwa, is among six suspected cases admitted to Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital. Authorities say the individual contracted the virus while attending a funeral in Ntoroko for an Ebola victim.

• Africa CDC Maintains Mpox Emergency Status as Cases Surge Across the Continent: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced the continuation of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), following recommendations from its Emergency Consultative Group (ECG). This decision comes amid rising cases, the emergence of a highly transmissible variant, and challenges in vaccine supply, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance. Mpox, a viral disease endemic to Central and West Africa, has seen a significant surge across the continent.

• US Aid cuts undermine the global fight against TB: The trump administration’s cut on foreign aid will send Tuberculosis cases and deaths around the world. A humanitarian worker stated that people are already dying from lack of treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The US has long been the biggest founder of the global fight against Tuberculosis, which is the world’s biggest infectious disease killer.

OUR OPINION