Category «Health»

Agago moves to prevent CCHF

Health officials in Agago district say they are to work with the ministry of agriculture and embark on animal intervention measures to curb the Congo Crimean hemorrhagic fever. The District Director Health Services Dr. Emmanuel Otto says the 304 million shillings the district requisitioned for the response plan is for both human and animal intervention measures. The animal intervention measures include among others sensitization of farmers on best practices on slaughtering, spraying animals and testing. He however says they are yet to receive the money. Meanwhile Dr. Otto says they are still waiting for test results for the samples that were obtained from the animals two weeks ago. About 50 animals had their blood samples taken to be tested for …

No new cases of CCHF in Agago

No new cases of the Congo Crimean hemorrhagic fever have been recorded in Agago district. The Distric Director Health Services Dr Emmanuel Otto says the three people who were admitted last week at the isolation centre in Kalongo hospital were discharged on Saturday. He says the blood samples taken from the last patient to be admitted tested negative.. Meanwhile he says the district expects to get some finances from the government soon. The money is to aid in intervention measures for controlling the disease. Two people have so far died since the disease was first reported last month while 21 others who had contact with the dead are being observed.

No money for midwives’ salaries

Government has confirmed that it will not be able to provide the Sh84 billion for midwives wages. The announcement is bound to affect the functioning of health center IIIs and IV’s. This has been confirmed by the state minister for planning Matia Kasaija. Kasaija says this financial year government is focused mostly on infrastructural development and not health. However, members of the civil society on maternal, new born and child health say they are not going to stop pushing for the release of that money. The executive director of the White Ribon Alliance Robina Biteyi says cases of maternal mortality have slightly gone up due to limited funding at health center III and IV’s.

More hospital beds needed

More hospital beds are urgently needed. The Ministry of Health is seeking for about 22 billion shillings to procure hospital beds and mattresses for all government hospitals. State Minister of Health, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye told Members of Parliament on the Health committee that the funds will help to address the increasing congestion in hospitals. The matter was raised by MPs on the Health committee, among them Betty Amongi and Dr. Kenneth Omona, who decried the poor state of hospitals, especially the health centre 3’s and 4’s. Dr. Tumwesigye says government is still looking for funding sources to equip at least the lower health centers to avert crises of space.

Congo crimean fever contained

The Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever is largely contained. This has been confirmed by the state minister for primary health care Sarah Opendi. She says since the disease broke out two weeks ago they have not yet registered any new confirmed case. Opendi attributes the development to increased surveillance and the public sensitization about the disease. Opendi however appeals to members of the public mostly in Agago district where the disease was first reported to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases.