Uganda News

Over 268,000 children in Uganda suffer from malnutrition, specifically wasting. To combat this, the country is enhancing data collection and use in its healthcare facilities and communities through the Nutrition Information System (NIS) project.

In October and November 2023, Kyotera district, in southern Uganda, reported a ‘strange’ illness in different communities. Those who contracted the “illness” presented with blisters, fever, rashes, headache, muscle pain and swelling of limbs.

Shafiq, a motorbike rider for over ten years, almost lost his life to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) just over a year ago. He used to go deep into villages to pick up and drop off passengers.

Mr. and Mrs. Kintu* are among the few medical personnel that contracted Ebola virus disease while in the line of duty in 2022. Fortunately, the timely and aggressive medical care that they received while admitted in the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) coupled with mutual support saved their lives.

The Uganda Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), convened a two-day National Policy dialogue on investing in and optimizing the health workforce to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Uganda.

Uganda eliminated leprosy as a public health problem in 1994, a result of combined efforts by health authorities in the country. However, over the years, registered cases of this neglected tropical disease have gradually increased from 121 cases in 2017 to 518 cases reported in 2022.  

Recognizing this increment, the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease, Uganda developed and launched a Zero Leprosy roadmap in October 2023, an initiative to integrate comprehensive care for leprosy into existing healthcare services.  

In the West Nile region of Uganda, Dawa Zubeda, a mother of five, has been on a harrowing journey to improve her youngest son's health. Her story mirrors the struggle of many parents facing the harsh realities of severe malnutrition.

Zubeda’s journey to the health facility was fraught with uncertainty and fear. “When I took my son to the hospital, I thought he had malaria. He was weak, with a swollen body and no appetite,” she recalled.

The Ugandan Ministry of Health has today received an ambulance worth USD 47,378.48, equivalent to UGX 178,598,866, to support prehospital care in Karamoja sub region. The ambulance was donated by the Embassy of Ireland in Uganda, through World Health Organization, as part of their health partnership towards the regionalized Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), convened a 2-day roundtable discussion to reflect on priority strategies and reforms to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable and effective financing of health in Uganda.

The Ugandan Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and its partners carried out awareness-raising and community engagement activities to commemorate World Health Day in Uganda. In line with the theme "My health, my right," these activities included a public sports walk, mass screening for communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and a blood donation drive.