Health Talk
Sep 13, 2005
<b>Epilepsy cases increase</b><br>GULU – There has been an increase in the number of epilepsy cases in the district, according to reports from the mental health unit at the regional referral hospital.
Epilepsy cases increase
GULU – There has been an increase in the number of epilepsy cases in the district, according to reports from the mental health unit at the regional referral hospital. Between July 2004 and June 2005, 556 more cases of epilepsy have been registered at the health unit. The original figure for the cases was 4,406 patients in 2004.
Drug reinstated
INTERNATIONAL – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reinstated seven generic antiretroviral (ARV) drugs that had previously been removed from the list of pre-qualified medicines. It has also approved three new types of ARV drugs for use in the treatment against HIV/AIDS. The generic drugs, which are mostly manufactured in India, were banned in August last year because the laboratories manufacturing them were not meeting international standards. On reinstating the drugs, WHO said the new laboratories and the products were now satisfactory.
Women more prone
NATIONAL – Female youths are six times vulnerable to HIV/AIDS than their male counterparts, a Uganda Youth Empowerment Scheme (UYES) study has revealed. The demographic statistics study carried out on young persons in the country recently showed that the most susceptible female youths were those below 19 years. The World Health Organisation defines a young person as one aged between 10-24 years. In Uganda, over 33% of the total population (over 7.2 million people) falls in this age bracket.
Orphans assisted
WAKISO – A US-based pharmaceutical company has donated a six-month supply of drugs to orphaned children at orphan care centre. Manatrach Plc gave out to the children several supplements and types of drugs, which are used in treating malaria and slowing down the development of HIV/AIDS among children. The majority at the centre, who number about 906, lost their parents and guardians to AIDS. Many of them are residents at the centre and are sponsored by US well-wishers.
Tuberculosis emergency
AFRICA – Health ministers have announced a regional tuberculosis (TB) emergency due to a sharp rise in TB cases. The declaration was made in Mozambique at a meeting of the World Health Organisation’s African region. WHO regional director for Africa Dr Luis Gomes Sambo appealed for “urgent and extraordinary†action to prevent the situation from getting worse.
GULU – There has been an increase in the number of epilepsy cases in the district, according to reports from the mental health unit at the regional referral hospital. Between July 2004 and June 2005, 556 more cases of epilepsy have been registered at the health unit. The original figure for the cases was 4,406 patients in 2004.
Drug reinstated
INTERNATIONAL – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reinstated seven generic antiretroviral (ARV) drugs that had previously been removed from the list of pre-qualified medicines. It has also approved three new types of ARV drugs for use in the treatment against HIV/AIDS. The generic drugs, which are mostly manufactured in India, were banned in August last year because the laboratories manufacturing them were not meeting international standards. On reinstating the drugs, WHO said the new laboratories and the products were now satisfactory.
Women more prone
NATIONAL – Female youths are six times vulnerable to HIV/AIDS than their male counterparts, a Uganda Youth Empowerment Scheme (UYES) study has revealed. The demographic statistics study carried out on young persons in the country recently showed that the most susceptible female youths were those below 19 years. The World Health Organisation defines a young person as one aged between 10-24 years. In Uganda, over 33% of the total population (over 7.2 million people) falls in this age bracket.
Orphans assisted
WAKISO – A US-based pharmaceutical company has donated a six-month supply of drugs to orphaned children at orphan care centre. Manatrach Plc gave out to the children several supplements and types of drugs, which are used in treating malaria and slowing down the development of HIV/AIDS among children. The majority at the centre, who number about 906, lost their parents and guardians to AIDS. Many of them are residents at the centre and are sponsored by US well-wishers.
Tuberculosis emergency
AFRICA – Health ministers have announced a regional tuberculosis (TB) emergency due to a sharp rise in TB cases. The declaration was made in Mozambique at a meeting of the World Health Organisation’s African region. WHO regional director for Africa Dr Luis Gomes Sambo appealed for “urgent and extraordinary†action to prevent the situation from getting worse.