Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | New measures taken to combat an Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have had a “positive impact”, but the virus remains dangerous and unpredictable, the World Health Organization and United Nations said Thursday. Since the outbreak began in August, 191 people …
Read More »Conjoined Bhutanese twins undergo separation surgery
Melbourne, Australia | AFP | Australian surgeons began operating early Friday to separate 15-month-old Bhutanese twins joined at the torso. Nima and Dawa, and their mother Bhumchu Zangmo, arrived in Australia a month ago with the help of an Australian charity but doctors had delayed the surgery until Friday to …
Read More »Ebola vaccination kicks off in Ntoroko district
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Vaccination against the Ebola virus has kicked off in Ntoroko district. The vaccination which started on Wednesday is being conducted at Rwanyara, Musandama, Ntoroko Health Centre IIIs, Bweramule Health Center II and Karugutu Health Center IV. The vaccination is a response to the Ebola outbreak …
Read More »Study finds ‘significant decline’ in genital mutilation rates in girls
Paris, France | AFP | Rates of female genital mutilation among girls under 14 have fallen sharply in most regions of Africa over three decades, according to ground-breaking analysis cautiously welcomed by aid groups. The age-old ritual of cutting or removing the clitoris of young females has been decried by …
Read More »Sickness and death
Doctors ‘need to start early conversation with patients about dying’ Kampala, Uganda | AGENCIES | Doctors need to get better at having difficult conversations with dying patients and not just in their final days, according to a report from the Royal College of Physicians. It says doctors should talk to people …
Read More »Ebola vaccination to start in Ntoroko district
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Vaccination of medical and frontline workers against Ebola is scheduled to start Wednesday in Ntoroko district, the Health Ministry has revealed. Ntoroko is one of the high five risk districts where vaccination will take place. The others are Bundibugyo, Hoima, Kasese and Kisoro districts. The …
Read More »Latest on brain cancer treatment
Why killing the fastest growing cells may not be the only treatment Kampala, Uganda | FLORIAN SIEBZEHNRUBL | Brain cancers are fortunately rare tumours in adults. Nevertheless, the most common type of brain cancer, glioblastoma, is incurable and almost always lethal. Because of the lack of effective therapies, the average survival …
Read More »Skin cancer deaths rates soar, mostly for men
Paris, France | AFP | Skin cancer deaths among men have soared in wealthy nations since 1985, with mortality rates among women rising more slowly or even declining, researchers told a medical conference in Glasgow Sunday. Reasons for the discrepancy between sexes are unclear but evidence suggests men are “less …
Read More »1000 deaths feared in DR Congo Ebola
Uganda, surrounding countries face increasing risk as Trump blocks American experts Kampala, Uganda | AGENCIES | One of the largest Ebola outbreaks in history shows no signs of slowing — and the Trump administration has barred U.S. health experts who want to help at the outbreak’s epicenter in the Democratic Republic …
Read More »DETAILS: How Uganda plans to vaccinate health workers against Ebola
Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Uganda will begin vaccinating frontline health workers against Ebola next week as the threat increases of the deadly virus spreading from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, the health minister said Friday. An outbreak of Ebola in the DRC has claimed 180 lives so far, …
Read More »