Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon’s official media watchdog on Friday said it had suspended a newspaper for three months for an article saying the country was on “autopilot” after the hospitalisation of President Ali Bongo in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago. Lack of official news — along with memories …
Read More »Ebola prevention measures ‘positive impact’ in DR Congo
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 »Gabon ruling party panel urges clarity over hospitalised president
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Senior figures in Gabon’s ruling party on Thursday called on the government to clarify the condition of President Ali Bongo, whose hospitalisation in Saudi Arabia has fuelled speculation that he is incapacitated. The consultative committee of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) said clarity was necessary …
Read More »Leaders on the spot on HIV disclosure
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Jie County MP Moses Bildad Adome has put his colleagues on the spot for not walking the talk on HIV disclosure. According to health experts, disclosure, a process through which one opens up about their HIV status, can reduce the stresses of living with HIV …
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 »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 …
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