Private Clinics in Uganda Struggle Under Mounting Patient Debts and Operational Costs

Private Clinics in Uganda Struggle Under Mounting Patient Debts and Operational Costs

By Tonny Abet 

Kampala – A Ugandan doctor has spotlighted the harsh realities of running a private health facility, revealing how unpaid patient bills, combined with taxes and rent, forced the closure of his clinic after years of unrecovered debts.

In a widely shared post on X, Dr. Sserunjogi Emma recounted a patient’s promise during treatment: “Doctor work on me, don’t worry about money, just save my life, payment is going to come.”

Three years and seven months later, the patient’s life was saved, but no payment arrived.

"It's been 3yrs and 7 months. Life was saved, no money came. URA came for its tax, landlord rent was paid out of pocket and patient is now driving," he added. 

His experience is far from isolated. Dr. Robert Kalyesubula, a specialist and former clinic owner, shared a similar story in response, confirming he had to shut down his Kyanja Clinic when patients owed nearly 67 million shillings. 

“By the time I closed the Kyanja Clinic, my patients owed us about 67 M. The clinic collapsed and the patients sought care elsewhere,” Dr. Kalyesubula wrote. He now works with larger hospitals that handle billing, taxes, and collections, allowing him to focus on care and take a cut of the remainder.

The posts have sparked widespread discussion among Ugandan medical professionals, many of whom described identical challenges: patients seeking emergency treatment on credit, then vanishing or blocking contact once stable.

 According to the doctors, without widespread health insurance or strict payment systems, private facilities often absorb these losses while still facing fixed costs like rent, supplies, staff salaries, and regulatory demands.

tonnyabet@gmail.com

END

Managing Measles: Understanding, Treating, and Preventing the Viral Threat

Managing Measles: Understanding, Treating, and Preventing the Viral Threat

By Tonny Abet 

tonnyabet@gmail.com

Measles, a highly contagious viral infection, manifests with a characteristic widespread skin rash and fever. This vaccine-preventable illness, caused by the measles virus, remains a significant cause of childhood mortality globally. The virus spreads through airborne droplets expelled during coughing or sneezing and through direct contact with an infected individual.

Dr. Michael Baganizi, head of the Ministry of Health's immunisation programme, has highlighted the persistent challenge measles poses in Uganda. Recent outbreaks have been severe enough to necessitate the reopening of the measles ward at Mulago Hospital, a stark indicator of the disease's resurgence.

"The measles ward at Mulago [Hospital] is full. Those wards had been closed but now they have reopened and they are full," Dr. Baganizi stated, underscoring the gravity of the situation. He further commented on the link between vaccination gaps and outbreaks: "That is what happens when vaccination breaks down. We hope that with this intervention it will be curtailed."

Data from the Ministry of Health reveals a concerning trend: the number of districts reporting measles outbreaks surged from approximately 20 in 2023 to 40 by the end of 2024.

Medical experts explain that measles typically begins with a high fever accompanied by symptoms such as a runny nose, a distinctive barking cough, and conjunctivitis, commonly known as "red/pink eye," which can lead to blindness if untreated. Patients may also experience vomiting and diarrhoea before the appearance of the generalised skin rash.

The Ministry of Health's 2023 clinical guidelines provide clear instructions for managing measles cases, advocating for the isolation of patients "at home or health centre" to prevent further transmission. Symptomatic treatment focuses on managing the fever with painkillers and addressing eye problems with prescribed ointments, always under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.

Crucially, the Ministry emphasises the need to increase fluid and nutritional intake for measles patients due to the high risk of malnutrition and dehydration, which can be life-threatening.

Under the care of healthcare workers, patients may also receive vitamin A supplementation and prompt treatment for any secondary bacterial infections with appropriate antibiotics. The guidelines stress that individuals isolated at home or in lower-level health facilities should be referred to a hospital immediately if any complications arise.

Prevention remains the most effective strategy against measles. Key preventive measures include widespread measles vaccination, avoiding contact between infected and uninfected individuals, and dispelling harmful local myths. One such myth, the belief that measles patients should avoid meat and fish, is actively being countered through public education.

Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, has affirmed the Ministry's commitment to increasing vaccination uptake to curb outbreaks.

“I appeal to all the districts to support the efforts –Measles- Rubella (MR) vaccinations which will also be part of the integrated child health days. We need to put an end to this measles outbreak before it spreads to avoid reopening the measles wards because this will be another added burden and yet we have preventive tools with us,” the Minister urged.

Dr. Aceng attributed the current outbreaks to low vaccination coverage and appealed to the public to rely on scientific evidence rather than misinformation.

“I also want to appeal to all of us to embrace vaccination and stop listening to anti-vaxxers (those who are opposed to vaccinations) because focusing on the WhatsApp scientists and anti-vaxxers is what has brought us today. If we had focused on vaccination and reached out to the zero-dose children, we would not be having a measles outbreak,” she stressed.

In response to the escalating outbreaks, Dr. Baganizi highlighted a proactive measure: the "Big Catchup" vaccination campaign aimed at reaching children who have missed their scheduled vaccinations.

"We had over 1.5 million children we had targeted to give the second dose of measles vaccine. The 45 affected districts include Kampala. And if we don’t vaccinate enough children, this outbreaks will continue because they keep finding unvaccinated children or weak immunity as the virus keeps rotating around," he explained.

Dr. Baganizi emphasized the critical importance of vaccination in halting the spread of the disease: “This vaccination was meant to put that to a halt. If this doesn’t happen more and more districts will continue experiencing outbreaks. Unfortunately, measles kills. It is not a simple disease.”

Concerning statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate a worrying trend of increasing numbers of "zero-dose" children – those who have not received essential vaccines against preventable diseases. An assessment report by researchers from the Gavi Zero Dose Learning Hub in Uganda revealed that this number nearly doubled in just two years, rising from 55,000 in 2021 to 96,000 in 2023. This growing pool of unvaccinated children creates a fertile ground for measles outbreaks to thrive, underscoring the urgent need for increased vaccination efforts and public health education.

END

Keywords: measles, vaccination, immunization, treatment, disease, prevention, uganda 

New nutrition initiative targets 26,000 vulnerable children in Uganda

By Tonny Abet 

tonnyabet@gmail.com 

In a determined effort to tackle Uganda's persistent challenges with child malnutrition and stunting, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF, has launched an innovative program targeting the nutritional needs of the youngest citizens. The initiative aims to reach 25,950 children across the country with a vital dietary supplement: free egg powder. This nutrient-rich powder, equivalent to the nutritional value of one fresh egg per day, is designed to significantly enhance the diets of young children.

Laura Ahumuza Turinawe, a senior nutritionist at the Ministry of Health, underscored the program's approach: “The egg powder will be mixed with locally available foods like beans and matooke, adding animal-source protein to make diets more diverse and nutritious.” This strategy ensures the supplement is integrated into existing eating habits, maximizing its impact.

The program will be implemented in four distinct phases, initially focusing on the Tooro sub-region districts of Kamwenge, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, and Kasese. This region, despite its reputation for abundant food production, grapples with stunting rates hovering around 40 percent, making it a critical area for intervention.

Detailing the initial rollout, Ahumuza explained, “For the next six months, we will distribute egg powder free of charge in Kamwenge through Village Health Teams, providing weekly supplies to households.” This community-based distribution system leverages trusted local networks to ensure the supplement reaches the intended beneficiaries. The announcement was made on May 5 during a media engagement addressing the national nutrition landscape.

While UNICEF has provided crucial initial funding for the procurement of the egg powder, the long-term sustainability of the program hinges on community involvement. Recognizing potential affordability challenges once the free distribution phase concludes, Ahumuza highlighted a key strategy: encouraging families "to rear chickens and sell eggs to local producers, fostering a self-sustaining cycle." This approach aims to empower communities to maintain improved nutritional practices independently.

Samalie Namukose, the Assistant Commissioner for the Nutrition Division, emphasized the program's broader cultural objective: “We want families to see eggs as a staple for children. One egg a day can significantly improve a child’s growth.” By normalizing egg consumption from an early age, the initiative seeks to create lasting positive dietary habits.

The selection of the Tooro sub-region as the program's starting point is strategic. As Namukose explained, “We chose Tooro to investigate the underlying causes of malnutrition in a region with abundant food. This program will help us identify and address these factors.” Understanding the paradox of high malnutrition in a food-rich area is crucial for developing effective and tailored interventions.

This new initiative represents a significant stride in Uganda's ongoing efforts to reduce malnutrition and stunting among its children. The lessons learned during the implementation in the Tooro sub-region will be invaluable in shaping future scale-up efforts across the nation.

On a broader scale, Namukose provided an encouraging overview of the national nutrition situation, stating, “Nationally, Namukose said, there has been some improvement in the nutrition situation in Uganda, even in Karamoja. First of all, stunting has reduced from 29% to 26% among the children under five, and for those who are underweight, we have managed to reduce from 14% to 10%,” She further affirmed the government's commitment to continued progress, "noting that they are increasing efforts to reduce these further.” The new egg powder initiative is a key component of this intensified effort.

END

Keywords: Nutrition, Uganda, Malnutrition, Egg, Powder

A-z of watermelon growing by Abet

 

By  Abet Tonny

Tony's A to Z of growing watermelon (reviewed on April 10, 2023)

I am a melon farmer based in Uganda, East Africa. I am going to share with you my lived experience of growing watermelon, in 5 minutes!

Watermelon is one of the sweetest fruits in the same family as pumpkins and cucumber. They are very vigorous growing plants that mature from 65 days to 90 days depending on the variety. In Uganda, the fruits from hybrid seeds range from 7 to 14 kgs.

Guinness World Records says the world's heaviest watermelon was grown by Lloyd Bright of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 2005. It weighed 268.8 lbs. (122 kg), according to Jessie Szalay

Every time people come to me showing interest to grow watermelon, they are all thinking about finding a suitable swampy area to launch the life-changing production. But I tell you, reader, just because watermelon has great water content does not mean it grows in water the plant does not grow in water-logged areas. For watermelon originated from South Africa's Kalahari desert.

Well, the soil requirement for watermelon is simply sandy loam with good drainage. Swamps and water-logged areas do not favor melon growth.

Watermelon does well even under rain-fed farming. If you receive heavy downpours at least once a week, you can be sure to get some good harvest, too! However, during the fruiting season, the water requirement for the plant goes up. Having irrigation pumps will greatly help in this situation in case of areas with very scanty rainfall. The Solar water irrigation pumps are cheaply available with SolarNow (Check out). Though a little risky, in normal rainy seasons, relying on rainfall will still work for watermelon production.

Let us talk about Varieties.
There are several varieties of watermelon in Uganda produced by different seed companies but as a farmer, I recommend Sukari F1 from East African Seeds, the best with a higher yield per acre and relatively better disease resistance!
Sukari F1 can yield as high as 30 tons of melon per acre. Others are Jubaili seeds, and Jaz F1, among others. They can be found in most agro-input shops across the country at varying sizes and prices -from around Shs50,000 for seeds in small tins to over Shs300,000 for seeds in big tins. 

Before I forget, you should always go for hybrid seeds, they are a little expensive to buy but will generate a great smile on your face during harvest as the yields are 5 to 10 times higher.

And now, the real process of production

Land clearing
In case you have trees in the garden, cut them down. Watermelons need direct sunlight for some good hours daily, meaning they will not grow well under shade. Last year, I lost a lot of money for refusing to cut down trees in the garden, you can avoid my mistake. The next thing is to clear the bushes.

Plowing
Successful land clearing will ease this step, the purpose here is to loosen up the soil for better drainage. This can be done using tractors, ox-plow, or even the usual hand hoes.

Making raised beds
The raised beds keep heat which watermelon craves to grow well. It also eases the protection of vines as you spray, and easy harvesting. For those using irrigation, it is good to make the raised beds flat atop. The beds should be 1.5 to 2 meters wide leaving a pathway.
The spacing between rows should be 2m and between plants should be 1m

Planting
You can add DAP fertilizer in the hole 15cm (about the length of a mathematical set ruler) deep and 15cm wide then cover with soil before planting. Place 1 or 2 seeds on the surface of each hole at different points, then push them with your finger at 1.5 cm depth. Then cover with a little soil. If you sow the seedlings very deep, they might not germinate.

Management
Farming is just like any other job or business. Absenting yourself for more than 2 weeks may amount to a big loss. Watermelon requires a lot of care, it is susceptible to several pests and disease attacks. You always need to monitor your garden at least once a week. Even the workers you employ can get jealous, they understand the value of what they are working in (they know watermelon brings a lot of money), and perhaps your payment to them per month or labor session is very low or unsatisfying as it happens in any natural world. With your serial absenteeism, these casual workers on the farm can or may harm your plants with high doses of pesticides or fertilizers that may burn the plants (investment). They can even plot to steal the fruits so your periodic visits and presence in the farm can break a number of those bad intentions.

In management, be sure to do the following; mulching, watering, weeding, spraying, insecticide application, fertilizer application, and placement of traps for fruit flies.



Harvest and Marketing
Watermelons normally start flowering at 6 weeks and by the 10th week, you can start harvesting your fruits. Harvest only mature fruits, you can tell if it's mature if it changes color at the bottom by becoming creamy white and if it produces a bam sound when hit in the sides. Harvest the fruit with its stalk to extend its shelf life. There are always ready markets for watermelon especially for Kenya market suppliers for Ugandan farmers. There are also great local markets for the melon in urban areas, however, be keen not to sell on credit. Selling from the farm is the most convenient but you get more money when you reach your urban markets.

 In an acre, over 4000 fruits can be produced. The farm prices in Uganda for watermelon (good size) swing around 3,000/= and this translates to (4000X3000) = 12,000,000. Twelve million Uganda shillings can be got from an acre of well-managed watermelon garden.


The writer is an experienced farmer, writer, and representative of YPARD

Best places to sell, buy pork in Uganda

 

Uganda's Nalubale Dawa Covid vaccine research underway -Museveni

Museveni takes a Covid jab

By Tonny Abet

President Museveni has said Ugandan scientists are developing Nalubale Dawa (ND) Covid-19 vaccine as a local innovation to increase fight against the pandemic.

"The vaccines are getting more available globally, however, we are working hard on our own vaccine which we shall call Nalubale Dawa. I thought about (using the name) Kiira Dawa but because the car people had taken the Kiira (name), I think we should leave Kiira to them and maintain Nalubale (Dawa)," he said.

He said this today night during his address to the nation on Covid-19 and security.

The President had earlier last year said Ugandan scientists would get the Covid-19 cure or vaccine earlier than developed countries.

Since the outbreak last year, the coronavirus has infected about twelve hundred thousand people and killed over 3000 people in the country.

In his address, the President said Uganda is banking on Covid-19 vaccination to fully reopen schools and economy in January next year. He said the government will reopen the economy whether people are vaccinated or not.

Over 6 million out of 15.5 million doses of the vaccines acquired by government through donations and direct procurement have been administered.

 The government is racing to vaccinate at least 21.9 million Ugandans to contain the pandemic.

Envt: Cities, municipalities get trucks to address waste menace

Mr Sam Atul, the mayor of Lira city receives two garbage trucks in Kampala. Photo taken by Tonny Abet in November 2021

Envt: Cities, municipalities get trucks to address waste menace

BY TONNY ABET

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development yesterday gave cities and municipalities, garbage trucks to address the piles of rotten, unsightly and hazardous wastes that are rampant in urban areas countrywide.

Dr Sam Mayanja, the State Minister for Lands said a total of fourteen brand new trucks were given to five cities, each receiving two trucks, and four municipalities received one truck each.

Arua, Lira, Hoima, Mbale, Masaka were the cities that benefitted while the municipalities included Kitgum, Mubende, Tororo and Kasese. More cities and municipalities will follow, according to the State Minister.

“Currently, the quantity of wastes generated in all our cities and municipalities in Uganda exceeds their capacity to collect, transport and dispose it off,” he said.

He added: “This results in mountains of wastes that are a common sight in our urban areas. This poses a threat to our health and also creates scenes that make our urban areas unsightly.”

The country’s efficiency in solid waste collection is currently very low, at 30 percent. This means the biggest chunk of waste cannot be collected and a huge portion are ending up in water bodies, thereby polluting and affecting vital aquatic life like fish.

“The limited capacity to manage solid waste has resulted in many of our people using unconventional methods of disposal such as collection within the backyards and burning, collection in polythene bags and dumping in streams, roadsides and water drainage channels which leads to blockage of the channels and streams,” Dr Mayanja said.

The blockage of drainage channels has caused flooding and loss of lives, especially in Kampala, according to previous media reports.

The country is also experiencing rapid urbanisation at a rate of 5 per cent, a factor which is leading to overcrowding and emergence of slums and informal settlements which have poor garbage management strategies, according to the Ministry.  

Mayors, Ministry divided on polythene ban

Mr Sam Atul, the Mayor for Lira city and Ms Florence Namayanja, the Masaka city mayor, applauded the Ministry for the trucks but asked the government to implement the ban on polythene bags.

They said polythene is one of the root causes of the growing problem of solid wastes in urban areas which are very costly to manage.

Mr Atul said: “We have received trucks to support us on garbage management, most especially in this era when the city is growing and attracting many people, the challenges of waste management are real.”

“But we also need government to come clear on helping us to manage polythene bags. The State Minister of Environment [Ms Beatrice Anywar] has come out to say that we are going to have a ban on kaveera but action has not yet been taken. This still remains a challenge for us as a city and the whole country,” he added.

Ms Namayanja said that although the biggest source of waste is from agricultural commodities sold in the city, “plastics such as the bottles and kavera are the hardest to handle.”

“Government has made a pronouncement on the ban and there is a law banning kavera. Kavera comes from known manufacturing sites and if they [government] do not deal with it from the source, it becomes a lot problem for us and the environment because we are at the receiving end,” she said.

But Dr Mayanja said the government cannot ban kavera. “Polythene bags are produced everywhere in the world. The right thing is not to ban it but find the good way of handling,” he said. 

Dr Aceng points out 10 reasons why Ugandans are not getting quality care

Launch of government Family planning commitments for 2030 in Kampala. Photo by Tonny Abet

Dr Aceng points out 10 reasons why Ugandans are not getting quality care

BY TONNY ABET

The Health Ministry has said Ugandans shouldn’t expect significant improvement in the quality of health care if the ten shortfalls including inadequate financing, shortage of specialists and inadequate equipment are not addressed.

The 2020 Annual Health Sector Performance Report indicated that country registered 45,042 deaths in hospitals in the 2019/2020 financial year, a figure which is 13 per cent higher than the 34,491 deaths that were reported in the 2018/2019 financial year.

A statement presented by Dr Jane Aceng, the Health minister to members of Parliament on Wednesday, up to 74 districts in the country lack government general hospitals, meaning the locals have to cross districts or travel to Kampala to get medical care.

“The estimated cost for construction and equipping is Shs70 billion per hospital and total cost for 74 hospitals is Shs5.1 trillion,” she said in the statement on the state of Public Healthcare Service Delivery in Uganda presented to Parliament. The presentation followed the demand by legislators.

The Minister said the creation of new districts is not being matched by need for more funds for establishment of health facilities and service delivery to the people.

She said the government allocates each Ugandan only Shs62,900 per person per year for medical care, which according to Dr Aceng falls short of the minimum requirement of Shs125,800 to avail essential healthcare.

The Shs62,900 can only treat one episode of malaria attack in low-level clinics in Kampala where people are charged somewhere from Shs60,000 to over Shs100,000 for treatment depending on the severity of the disease.  

“With the current funding, the health sector will not achieve the targets indicated in the National Development Plan III and the health-related sustainable development goals including reduction of child mortality, improving maternal health and combatting HIV/AIDS…,” Dr Aceng said.

The country records up to 1000 new cases of HIV infections each week, according to The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and about 1.4 million people are living with the disease.

According to Dr Aceng, the biggest chunk of the funding for the country’s supplies of essential medicines come from development partners, not government.

“The available government funding for essential medicines and health supplies is Shs9,285 per capita (of which 36 percent is for ARVs),” she said.

She added:”This is far below the recommended Shs44,000 per capita. Development partners contribute up to 64 percent of the funding for medicines and this is mainly for ARVs, HIV testing kits, TB drugs, antimalarial and reproductive health commodities.”

She said the projected funding gap for essential medicines and health supplies over the period of 2020 to 2025 is Shs5.7trillion. “There is an urgent need to increase government funding for medicines and health supplies.”

List

The ten challenges presented MoH

1. The shortage of critical cadres like anesthetic officers for emergency care, and pharmacists

2. Inadequate financing to the sector

3. Increase in number of Local governments without adequate funds for health service delivery.

4. Dilapidated health infrastructure

5. Inadequate medical equipment

6. Lack of proper imaging equipment like CT scans, X-rays

7. Districts don’t have hospitals and Health Centre IVs

8. Lack of staff accommodation in health facilities

9. Inadequate funding for National Medical Ambulance service system

10. The need to strengthen community health extension workforce

Ugandan MPs express fear over Covid vaccines

November 2021: A nurse injects a Kyambogo University student with Covid vaccine at a vaccination point in Kampala. Photo by Tonny Abet

MPs express fear over Covid vaccines

BY TONNY ABET

The Members of Parliament have said a significant number of Ugandans are worried about the safety of Covid-19 vaccines even as the government forces people to take the jab to access key offices.

Mr Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP), said he got several complaints that the vaccines cause impotence.

“There are concerns in some areas where the uptake [of Covid-19 vaccine] is very low, that this vaccine causes impotence in men and therefore men are scared of these vaccines and is weary of the future,” he said yesterday in Parliament.

He was reacting to the presentation by Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health Minister on the state of Covid-19 response.

But Dr Aceng in response to Mr Mpuuga, said there is no evidence that the vaccines cause impotence. “Research has not documented that [impotence] issue as one of the side effects [of the Covid-19 vaccines]” she said.

Ms Betty Aol Ocan, the former LOP said some two teachers in Gulu sub-region have also died after the vaccination and that this is worsening the hesitancy.

But Dr Aceng said there is no guarantee that someone may not contract the virus after taking the jab. she said those who have received two jabs are better protected.

The government has so far administered 3.2 million doses out of 8.9million doses it acquired through donation and direct procurement. The government is racing to vaccinate 7 million people to fully reopen the economy next year.

At the plenary, Ms Cecilia Ogwal, the Dokolo District woman MP asked the government to increase salary of health workers who are doing vaccination. She said the current Shs5000 they get per day is an insult to someone who is responsible.

Dr Aceng said in response that they had put the amount at that because they expected the health workers to do vaccination in hospital setting. She said they are also constrained by finance because of limited allocation from the government for Covid-19 vaccination.

The Minister, however, said they have got some support from development partners to increase the amount given to health workers doing outreaches to Shs28,000 per day.

Dr Aceng said the government has so far spent about Shs619b on vaccine procurement and distribution but that they need Shs1.4 trillion for the entire vaccination exercise to reach the target of 22 million people. 

Keywords: Covid, vaccine, Uganda, Kampala, men, side effects, erectile dysfunction, blood clots

Uganda stops holding international travellers over Covid testing

 

Nurse examines a client: Photo taken in November 2021 in Kampala by Tonny Abet

Uganda stops holding international travellers over Covid testing 

BY TONNY ABET

The Director General of Health Services, Dr Henry Mwebesa, has written to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), requesting that effective today, in-bound travellers should be allowed to go home after taking their samples.

Previously, travellers entering the country through Entebbe International Airport were being asked to wait for their results at the airport but issues of long waiting hours had been raised by travellers.

“The Ministry of Health on advice from Scientists, has resolved that all arriving passengers at Entebbe International Airport will have their samples for Covid-19 taken and there after they will be allowed to proceed home or to their hotels for self-isolation until they receive their results,” the letter by Dr Mwebesa dated November 4th reads in part.

He continued: “The test results will be sent to their phones or emails. This change takes effect on 5th November, 2021. This is to request you to commensurate this to all airlines.”

Dr Jane Aceng, the Health minister, told MPs on Wednesday that the move will minimize inconveniences resulting from delays in sample collection and dispatch of results.

“Travellers will be required to provide adequate information for easy traceability,” she said.

“Our airport is very small, there is no space and we are trying to do everything in that small space. We are hoping that when internet services improve and people apply online, it will take a shorter time,” Aceng said.

The Minister said that the ministry will strengthen the surveillance system and follow-up all the identified positive cases. But some experts have since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, said the Ministry’s surveillance system is not efficient.  

The government said it introduced the mandatory testing to curb the importation and spread of deadly variants of the coronavirus that has so far killed over 3000 Ugandans and infected more than 120,000. 

Keywords: Covid, Uganda, airport, Entebbe, testing, Kampala, travellers, tourism, flight

Mulago hospital launches surgical camp for children with birth defects

November 9, 2021: Pediatric surgeons at Mulago hospital operate on a baby with hernia. Picture by Tonny Abet

Mulago hospital launches surgical camp for children with birth defects

BY TONNY ABET

Mulago Hospital on Monday launched a ten-day surgical camp to operate on children with birth defects.

Dr Rosemary Byanyima, the deputy director of the hospital said the camp is targeting children who were not able to access care because of a shortage of specialists and limited facilities in the country.

“There is a big number of children born with birth defects [in the country]. From time to time they [pediatric surgeons in Mulago hospital] operate on children but the backlog becomes a lot and then we have to organize a medical camp where we put all the resources together and operate,” Dr Byanyima said.

Added: “We are targeting to operate over 120 children. On the first day alone, around 20 children were operated on. Ninety percent of the specialists who are doing this are our staff but there are other two guests specialists who are going to be working with us.”

Dr John Sekabira, the head of pediatric surgery unit of Mulago Hospital told Daily Monitor that there are only seven pediatric surgeons in the country.

“This is in a country where children constitute 50 percent. Around 10 percent of [1.4 million] children born annually in the country have birth defects,” he said.

Dr Sekabira added that: “every month, our ward admits around 150 children with various conditions. The few number of specialists is one of the causes of backlog of children who can’t access operation services but facilities are also not enough.”

There are three dedicated theatres in Mulago hospital for operating children, according to the management.

Ms Agnes Nabaggala, a resident of Nsambya in Kampala and a mother who has brought a baby to be operated on, said her child was born without an anus.

“I [first] brought my baby here when he was one-day old and he was operated on the following day. The behind part was operated on when he was one year and nine months and now they are just going to return it back,” he said.

Dr Byanyima said the corrective surgeries are done in stages. “We thank the parents for responding to the call to bring their children for these operations. These children are having their operations in stages and it is very important that the parents keep bringing their children in the next and the following appointment.”

Dr Sekabira said there is not much that mothers can do to prevent the birth defects. He said the commonest conditions they handle include children born without anus, children with undescended testes, problems in the spleen, intestinal obstruction and cancers among others. 

Keywords: mulago, Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, children, defects, birth

Mandatory Covid jabs for travellers to US

Mandatory Covid jabs for travellers to US

BY TONNY ABET

The government of United States of America (USA) has announced that all travellers entering the country from November 8, will be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to safeguard their public health.

A statement by Ned Price, the spokesperson for the Department of State, that this reporter got yesterday, all travellers going to the US will be asked to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the country.

He, however, said some exceptions will be made for some people, especially those from countries that have been struggling to access vaccines.

“This policy prioritises public health, protecting U.S. citizens and residents as well as those who come to visit us.  Because it puts public health first, exceptions to this policy will be extremely limited:  including children under 18 and certain individuals in countries where vaccines are not yet readily accessible,” he said.

The US has so far lost 767,849 people to Covid-19 and over 46 million of its citizens have been infected since the outbreak of the disease in the country, according to statistics from worldometers.info. This makes the country one of the most hit by the pandemic.  

The directive comes at a time when authorities in many countries, Uganda inclusive, are introducing stringent internal measures such as restricting access to offices for unvaccinated workers and visitors to promote vaccination and restrain the pandemic. Some legal experts, however, say restricting unvaccinated people is a violation of right to access.

Mr Price said the guidelines also include new protocols around testing. “To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travellers – whether U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or the small number of excepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to test within one day of departure.”

“For those who are vaccinated, the testing requirement remains three days before their flight…. This policy will allow the resumption of regular international travel for those who are fully vaccinated.  Families and friends can see each other again, and tourists can visit our national parks and famous landmarks,” he added.

He said the policy is aimed at further boosting economic recovery across their country which has suffered tremendously from Covid-19 effects.

The government of Uganda has also introduced mandatory Covid-19 testing for all travellers entering the country through Entebbe International Airport to curb the importation of deadly variants of the coronavirus and prevent the spread of the disease in the country.

Fish in Uganda: People enjoy fried fish in Gaba, Kampala

 Ugandans enjoy fried fish in Gaba landing site restaurant. Video by Tonny Abet. 30/10/2021

Keywords: environment, fish, Uganda, Kampala, Gaba

Birds of Uganda: Marabou stork

Marabou stork sips water at Gaba landing site. Picture by Tonny Abet. 30/10/2021

Keywords: environment, Uganda, Abet, Tonny, Lake Victoria, Kampala

How farmers can tap into export markets

 Video by Tonny Abet, science journalist in Kampala, Uganda.

Key words: Diet, Nutrition, Farmers, Uganda, Organic, Abet, Tonny, Daily Monitor, Kampala

Covid-19: People who skipped childhood TB vaccine at higher risk

The common vaccine administered to protect children from tuberculosis has shown significant association with reduced risk of Covid-19 deaths, experts say.

 

Information from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), the vaccine known as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) produces life-long enhanced immunity against other respiratory diseases such as Covid-19.

 

“The researchers found that every 10 per cent increase in BCG index was associated with a 10.4 per cent reduction in Covid-19 mortality,” the information on the Gavi website reads.

 

The agency which is behind Covid-19 vaccine development and global sharing, says there are ongoing studies in countries such as Netherlands and Australia to determine how exactly the BCG protects people from Covid-19 death.

 

“This means that we will only know for certain if BCG vaccine works against Covid-19 once results of a number of clinical trials have been fully scrutinised,” the vaccine agency wrote.

 

BCG is approved for use in Uganda by National Drug Authority.

Uganda discusses plan to introduce digital health passport

Written by Tonny Abet

All inbound and outbound travellers to Uganda will have to present digitally verified proof of a negative Covid-19 test if the government accepts a new proposal from the African Union.

The African Union and Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have come up with Trusted Traveller (TT) initiative, an online system designed to authenticate and verify travellers' Covid-19 certificates to curb the cross-border spread of Covid-19 infection in the continent.

As of Wednesday, a total of 3,308,919 cases and 80,939 Covid-19 deaths had been reported in the continent, according to Africa CDC.

Asked on Tuesday by this reporter about Uganda’s position, Dr Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health said their teams are still discussing and that a clear position will be communicated.

“They [African Union] presented the proposal and our teams are reviewing. It is after the reviewing process is completed that I shall know [whether Uganda will adopt it],” Dr Atwine said. 

To adopt the initiative, the Ministry will have to set specific restrictions and test requirements in the online system, register and monitor testing laboratories, according to information from the website of the Africa CDC.

Africa CDC said laboratories will have to issue Covid-19 certificates with Trusted Travel codes that can be readily verified by airlines and border point health authorities to ensure the integrity of presented certificates.

Currently, some Covid-19 test results are presented on printed paper and so are susceptible to forgery. Some countries such as Kenya already adopted the technology, according to last week's report by the Daily Nation.

In Uganda, the cumulative confirmed cases stood at 38,534 and deaths at 305 as of Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health statistics.    

How it works

“Passenger obtains this information and goes to a laboratory to get tested according to the requirements laid out by the Public Health Authority [of the country],” the information on the Afric CDC website reads.

It adds: “The laboratory operator generates special seals for digital test results that are verifiable through the Trusted Travel portal. The passenger can go to the airlines’ website to validate the test result for a clearance code or the passenger can get to the airport and validate the test result code with the help of the Airline Agent to obtain the clearance code just ahead of travel.”

Upon arrival in the destination country, the port official verifies the clearance code and then allows the passenger or traveller through, according to the agency. 

Kenya approves commercial farming of GM cotton

BY TONNY ABET

Cabinet of Kenya government yesterday approved the commercial farming of BT cotton following successful completion of field trials conducted for five years.

Bt cotton is a genetically modified pest resistant plant cotton variety, which produces an insecticide to combat bollworm

According to yesterday’s press release, the commercial farming of BT cotton is set to ensure farmers earn more from the crop through increased production.

“It will also boost the manufacturing pillar of the Big 4 Agenda where Kenya seeks to establish itself as a regional leader in textile and apparel production,” read the press release.

Museveni Tips Farmers How To Succeed In The Face Of Climate Change

“Plan for the rains and climate changes, but do not entirely rely on nature in farming,” Museveni tells farmers.

In a Facebook post on last Sunday, the president wrote sharing with farmers his insights on how to succeed in farming in the face of changing climate.

In the post, Museveni articulated that modern farming requires a whole new way of thinking and new sets of tactics for one to thrive.

“Water and pasture can be permanently harnessed and preserved in one place,” Museveni wrote.

He emphasized that farmers need to grow and preserve food for animals just like they do for themselves irrespective of the weather pattern.

According to Museveni, modern agriculture is about seizing and bringing nature under control.

“Modern farming demands that humanity must tame nature and preserve water at all times both for their animals and for irrigation to ensure the growth of pasture and foodstuffs,” the president highlighted.

He added that preserving these will guarantee the feeding of their stock irrespective of the changing climate.

The president's insight comes at a time when heavy down pour is being experienced in most parts of the country. 

According to the information from Rain Water Harvesting Handbook of Uganda's Ministry of Water and Environment, water harvesting is lowly practiced in the country despite the high annual precipitation in most regions.

Rain water harvesting is highly practiced in developed countries like German and Australia.

Different Water Harvesting Technologies in Uganda

Rain Barrels

This is one of the commonest methods in Uganda which involves installing a barrel at a gutter down pour to collect water.

·         Whereas this method is easily implemented because of the availability of barrels and the fact that they don't take up much space, the carrying capacity of barrels are usually very low.

"Dry" System                                                                                                                                 

This is a form of rain barrel set up only differing in the fact that it involves a larger storage volume. In this widely used technology, collection pipe dries after each rain event since it empties directly into top of the tank. This method allows for huge volumes of water to be stored and is thus good for areas where rainfall pattern is unpredictable.

However, the size of your roof being the determining factor for the maximum possible volume of water, it is always hard to fill the tanks which are either plastics or concrete constructions.

"Wet" System

This is spreading technology in Uganda. The method involves locating the collection pipes underground. The tanks are always concrete made constructed underground.

The rain water will fill the underground piping and the water will rise in the vertical pipes until it spills into the tank.

The ability to collect from your entire collection surface and multiple gutters makes this method the choicest. However, the technology is very expensive especially the construction process for underground tanks.

Top 7 Fruits that Boost Memory and Sustain Focus

Getty Images

The road to success can get bumpy and life-sapping to wind along. But with constant acquisition of knowledge, self-optimisation and determination, one can become unstoppable. Having clear focus and a robust memory are some of the unrivalled secrets of the super-achievers.

So whether you want to hasten your career development, improve your general work performance, hit the project reporting deadline with a sparkling write up, or perform better in class, having a robust memory is going to be pivotal. And this is going to be a great read for you.

The researchers in Naturopathy have discovered foods that have nutrients which improve brain power and optimise memeory. Naturopathy is a system of the alternative approaches that treat diseases without the use of synthetic drugs.

Kamukama Kabikiire, a Makerere University alumnus is a renown Ugandan researcher in alternative medicine and he unveils some of the best foods for your improved brain efficiency.

"There are manifold brain foods locally available in Uganda that you should be eating to feed both your body and brain," says the researcher. "With a mix of fruits, vegetables, oils, and even chocolate, there's definitely something for everyone."

Avocado

According to Kamukama, these green powerhouses are not only packed with good fats _monosaturated fats_ which keep your skin glowing but they are also amazingly rich in vitamin K and folate which ensure a good flow of blood to the brain. "A good flow of blood to the brain means your brain gets enough nourishment of sugar and other essential nutrients to optimise its alertness," explains Kamukama.

Beets

"Eaten as salads or blended with other fruits to make a natural juice, nutrients in beets help beat up inflammation in the brain," says Kamukama, continuing,"The beets are also very rich in antioxidants." He explains that these antioxidants help rid your blood of toxins making blood entering your brain clean enough for its perfect working.

The researcher also revealed that cow-hoof -locally known as Molokony or ekigere in Uganda; Broccoli; Groundnut (Peanut); Silverfish oil and Tumeric -locally known as ebinzaali are other great brain-boosting packets of nutrients you should consider in your food menu.



Article by Abet Tonny
Tonny is science writer in Uganda with interest in health and the environment.


Source:
1. Book: Self Medication with Foods and Herbs that Fight Diseases by Kamukama Kabikiire