Category «Health»

Gynecologist suspended over misconduct

A senior gynecologist at Mulago Hospital has been suspended for two years over misconduct. Dr. Asinja Kapur is said to have altered a medical report involving a couple whose baby boy disappeared at the hospital. They were instead given a corpse of baby girl. The Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Council has confirmed that Dr. Asinja altered original records showing that the couple had delivered a baby boy. The 2006 incident involved Sauda Nabakiibi and her husband Farouk Bukenya, who conducted DNA tests and confirmed that their samples did not match with those of the body they were given. The head of the Council, Dr. Joel Okello says investigations will continue and over 35 cases involving exchange of babies at …

No more condom shortage

Uganda has adequate condoms in stock. The Ministry of Health says it has enough condom stocks to last for about half a year. This comes on the backdrop of reports of recent condom shortages in some parts of the country. Appearing before Parliament’s Health committee today, the coordinator of the ABC desk at the ministry, Vastha Kibirige told MPs that the last condom shortage last year was due to delays in the pre-testing exercise which was rectified. Kibirige however says the ministry requires funding to clear about 280 million condoms this month, with a batch containing 450 condoms requiring about Shs 700,000 to be cleared.

ARV shortage bites harder

The shortage of Anti-Retroviral drugs in several hospitals is real. People living with HIV/AIDS say that they are already feeling the pinch with many being turned away by doctors. The National Forum of People Living with HIV/AIDS advocacy officer, Margret Happy says Busia district has been worst hit with hospitals now running to nearby clinics. She is now appealing to the ministry of health and the National Medical Stores to identify the affected districts and send drugs as soon as possible. Last week state health minister, Elioda Tumwesigye acknowledged the shortage attributing it to the increasing numbers of new cases of HIV infection.

Modern toilets to address poor sanitation in hospitals

In a move meant to improve hygiene in hospitals, government is working on a modern sanitation system to eliminate many pipes. The State Minister for Primary Health Care Elioda Tumwesigye says this new system will help reduce cases of blockage and general poor sanitation that have in the past plagued many of the government health facilities. According to a desk study carried out by The Water and Sanitation Program, Uganda loses Sh.389 billion annually due to poor sanitation. The report further indicates that the economic burden of poor sanitation falls most heavily on the poorest.

Appeal on to support breastfeeding mothers

Mothers living with HIV/AIDS need to be supported to exclusively breast feed their babies. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has pledged support to these mothers to ensure good health for the infants. He has promised to direct Members of Parliament to roll out breastfeeding campaigns in their respective constituencies. Relatedly, Health Minister Rukahana Rugunda says babies who are exclusively breastfed have higher chances of living longer compared to those who are not. The remarks were made at the official launch of the World Breastfeeding week that kicks off tomorrow.