In her address the state minister of health in charge of Primary Health Care, Margarete Mugisa Muhanga noted that malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death with 16 people dying daily to the dease noting that the introduction of the vaccine is expected to prevent at least 800 new malaria cases among children.
The health ministry met elders drawn from all nine districts of Karamoja in the district to sensitize them on the importance of malaria vaccines and requested elders to help them rally the parents to embrace the program.
The hospital has 15 specialists on government payroll including gynecologist, physicians, orthopedics, surgeons, pediatricians, ENT surgeons, ophthalmologists and public health specialists. It lacks emergency physicians, anesthesiologist, and pathologists among others.
Nabilatuk district alone has 111 accumulative cases registered between August 2024 and to date with most of them recovering while at least two succumbed to the disease. While Amudat confirmed 10 cases positive and Nakapiripirit 15 cases of infants with clinical symptoms.
Currently, Amolatar has only one functional type B Ambulance which serves patients who require referral services to either Amai Hospital in Amolatar, Amolatar HCIV or the regional referral hospital in Lira.
The ministry of health spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona says Kasese is among the districts who are still performing below the recommendable immunization target of 95%.
Rwenzori East Police Spokesperson, SP Nelson Tumushime, confirmed that the suspect has been transferred to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in Kampala for legal proceedings.
Dr. Pontius Apangu, the principal health officer for Arua City explains that the suspected cases now under isolation are from Arua Technical Institute Ragem, and that they have also received alerts in some schools in Tanganyika ward, Arua Central.
Dr. Caesar Dravu, the in charge of Rhino camp health center IV explains that with the help of the local leaders, they last year secured additional land for the facility which can now host a district hospital.
Statistics from the district health department indicate that 7 out of 10 individuals seeking medical services at health facilities within the district test positive for bilharzia disease.
Geoffrey Adiga, the Arua City Disease Surveillance Focal Person, says that the affected children are now undergoing medical attention. Adiga emphasized the importance of completing the immunization cycle.
Uganda traditionally receives US $500 million annually, facilitating diverse activities, including treatment for 1.4 million people living with HIV, a commitment ongoing for two decades since the fund's establishment by the US government, benefiting over fifty-five countries globally.
George Otim, the Commissioner of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Health, stated during the site handover at Arua Regional Referral Hospital Tuesday that the completed ICU will provide the region with the capability to treat illnesses that are usually referred to health facilities in Kampala.
According to the forensic report, the Regional Referrals in question were given 270 million Shillings each and Mbarara did not account for 86.7 million, Moroto 112.07 million, Arua 1.79 million, Mbale 87.29 million, Fort Portal 108.4 million and Mubende 217.98 million Shillings.
The Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, says that the country risks losing huge sums of money that was used to procure the vaccines if they expire without being utilized.
Dr. Steven Magera, the Medical Superintendent of Luwero hospital says that due to the challenges faced by women during referrals, they resolved to set up a basic Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with support from Adara Group, a non-government Organization.