Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump suffered a bitter defeat Friday in his first major legislative challenge, as the president’s effort to repeal Obamacare was shot down by rebel Republican lawmakers. Barely two months into his term, Trump was forced to withdraw an embattled Republican health care bill, …
Read More »Trump forced to pull health care bill in major setback
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump on Friday asked House Speaker Paul Ryan to withdraw an embattled Republican health care bill, moments before a vote, signaling a major political defeat for the US president. “The speaker talked to the president at three o’clock today and the president asked the …
Read More »Trump ultimatum: Pass health bill Friday or Obamacare stays
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump warned Republicans that he is done negotiating and wants a vote Friday on replacing Obamacare, warning that if the effort fails, his predecessor’s health care reforms will stand, lawmakers in an emergency meeting said. In a high-stakes closed-door huddle with Republican lawmakers …
Read More »Norway is happiest, East African countries among the bottom
And the world’s happiest country is… Norway, as Uganda is ranked 133 New York, United States | AFP | A chilly climate isn’t keeping Norway from basking in the glow of being named the world’s happiest country on Monday. The Scandinavian country surged from fourth place in last year’s UN …
Read More »HEALTH: Cholesterol-slashing drug does not impair brain
Washington, United States | AFP | A new cholesterol-slashing drug that has shown promise for high-risk patients does not impair brain function, according to a study out Saturday. Previous research had raised the possibility that evolocumab, sold under the brand name Repatha by Amgen, may have a damaging effect on memory …
Read More »Web-based counseling lowers blood pressure as much as meds
Washington, United States | AFP | People who received regular lifestyle counseling online were able to lower their blood pressure as much as a medication would, researchers said Saturday. Their study involved 264 people with high blood pressure and an average age of 58. The subjects’ average blood pressure began at …
Read More »Magufuli offers 500 doctors to ease Kenya health crisis
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | AFP | Tanzania on Saturday agreed to send 500 doctors to Kenya after a 100-day doctors’ strike that paralyzed health services in the neighbouring country. President John Magufuli announced the decision after meeting a Kenyan delegation in Dar es Salaam headed by health minister Cleopa Mailu. …
Read More »Districts with highest sickle cell disease traits identified
Uganda’s Ministry of Health has embarked on a comprehensive program aimed at reducing the burden of the sickle cell disease in the country. While presenting a statement before parliament on the burden of the disease in the country, Minister Dr.Jane Ruth Aceng said the program will involve testing of new born …
Read More »Kenyan doctors sign deal to end crippling 100-day strike
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenyan doctors signed a deal on Tuesday to end a strike over pay and working conditions that has crippled public hospitals for 100 days. The government had threatened repeatedly to fire the strikers and hire foreign doctors, and union officials were even briefly jailed in a …
Read More »700 dead as malaria ‘epidemic’ hits Burundi
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | About 700 people have died from malaria in Burundi so far this year, the health minister said, with the authorities having registered 1.8 million infections in a rising epidemic. “Burundi faces a malaria epidemic,” Josiane Nijimbere said Monday, commenting on a World Health Organization (WHO) report. …
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