A health worker rides on a motorcycle to vaccinate children with the oral polio drug.The vaccine is being phased out for preference to the Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV).

In a bid to increase immunity of children across the globe, Uganda is among the countries that are slowly phasing out oral polio vaccines to replace it with the new type of injectable vaccine which experts say offers extra health protection to the children.

Presenting a paper on the new immunization programme, the deputy programme manager at United National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (UNEPI), Dr. Henry Luzze recently confirmed that this type of vaccine dubbed ‘injectable polio vaccine’ (IPV) was recommended by the Global Health Organization after a full study on how it works and its advantages compared to the current vaccine used in 60 countries across the globe.

Luzze revealed that Uganda is among the countries that are yet to fully embrace that vaccine for the elimination of polio in the country’s population by 2020.

“As UNEPI, we are very sure that when Uganda finally fully embraces the new injectable polio vaccine, then the country’s population will be free from the disease and ensure that there is a health population,” Luzze said.

With Uganda now already at 98% immunization levels, the health ministry is now moving in swiftly to start mass immunization of the swarming refugee population that is entering the country from all directions.

The current South Sudan conflict has seen an influx of refugees entering Uganda with the United Nations figures putting the number at 26,000.

Luzze however maintains that all the foreign populations from war tone nations are strictly being targeted to keep Uganda at the desire immunization levels with polio being the highly considered immunizable disease among other deadly immunisable diseases.

According to the ministry of health, efforts have already been put in place at especially the borders with South Sudan to avoid having Ugandan citizens’ contract  immunisable diseases especially children.

Luzze, said it has been a long journey for Uganda to reach these levels and still sights challenges that the country is facing to hit its target of 100% immunization levels.

He said the challenges mainly include; negative attitudes towards immunization by some parents, negative cultural and religious trends among others which need to be overcome for the country to fully embrace immunization and eradicate immunizable diseases which continue to kill and affect Uganda’s children.

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Does diet play a part in the development of heart diseases? The answer is YES. People across the globe are look and they are what they eat

Every choice people (we) make today will impact them the next day, week, months, years or decades to come tomorrow.

Our diet plays a significant role in prevention or production of heart diseases. Diets high in artificial processed fats, low in fresh vegetables and fruit, and high in alcohol put people at the greatest risk of heart disease.

In order to help your blood pressure under control and therefore lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, limit the amount of salt you consume. As much as 75% of the salt in the average diet comes from processed foods-everything from bacon to soups and salad dressing.

Choose foods without added salt and prepare home-cooked food with little or no salt. All natural food items such as fruits vegetables, fish and lean meats have very little salt.

Walakira Nyanzi

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Women under garments (read knickers or G. Strings), according to reproductive specialists, have serious dangers. Scientists say that friction caused by G. strings can transfer germs from the woman’s anus to the private parts and urethra to cause urinary track infections.

Other infections G. strings transfers are candididiasis, virginal infections and cystitis urethratis. The most problematic knickers are those made of synthetic material because they can cause vaginal thrush itchy skin and irritable diseases.

Recently Reuters also reported that tight knickers create excessive moisture around the covered skin. The writers went ahead to reveal that lack of enough aeration affects the ecology of the woman’s private parts, making them more prone to diseases/infections.

It should equally be noted that bacteria live well in moist environment created by tight knickers, especially those pants made of nylon. Studies in leading world universities show that the friction caused by the tight knickers like G. strings can damage the sensitive parts of the vagina causing pain when urinating.

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Solution to diseases related to old age is so many but one can maintain their sight and hearing with vitamin A foods such as dark green vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes and lettuce.

Doctors at MulagoNationalReferralHospital in Uganda’s capital Kampala say that chances of developing cognitive problem can be reduced by controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and dealing with cholesterol levels.

Kidney disease that usually disturbs old people can be controlled by doing exercises, diet, checkups and treatment. The prostate cancer that kills thousands of old people around the world can be reduced by lycopene, which is found in tomatoes, watermelon, while osteoarthritis  can be controlled by controlling overweight and maintain a healthy diet especially containing glucosamine and calcium.

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The meeting which has been convened in Entebbe is focusing mainly on Guinea worm disease, which is still affecting various communities in Southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Sudan and DRC.

State Minster for health, Sarah Achieng Opendi

Three years ago World health organization declared Uganda Guinea worm free, among the mentioned countries, but because of, being a neighbor to DRC and Southern Sudan, those countries have remained a threat to Uganda.

The minister of state for health Sarah Opendi says government is considering putting in place a surveillance system to monitor the disease across all boarders of the country.

Guinea worm disease is transmitted by drinking stagnant surface water that contains Cyclops infested by the larvae of the parasites. There is no medicine or vaccine against the disease but simple and effective measures such as filtering of drinking water can prevent from guinea worm disease.

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Infertility is a person being unable to produce young ones. Its causes are many but they include poor nutrition and nutritional deficiency and stress.

Sexually transmitted diseases, environmental toxins and congenital abnormalities also cause infertility especially in men.

Other causes of infertility are hormonal problems especially thyroid or low progesterone, medical conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, varicocele, eating disorders, especially anorexia, ovary intense exercise, obesity, and toxic metals.

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ISID Small Grants: The Small Grants Program is designed to fund pilot research projects by young investigators in developing countries.

The goal is to support and foster the professional development of young individuals (less than 40 years of age) in the field of human infectious diseases research by helping them to acquire additional skills and data to apply for other grants.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to investigations of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases, the epidemiology and control of hospital-acquired infections, and modeling of cost effective interventions.

Proposals will be reviewed by members of the Professional Development Working Group and decisions made in collaboration with the President and the Program Director.

Upon completion of the project, a written report of the project must be sent to the Society.

The Society encourages recipients of grants to present their results at scientific meetings and to submit them for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

ISID Small Grants – Deadlines

Up to five grants of up to US $6,000 each will be awarded annually.

Deadlines for submission of proposals are April 1 (notification after June 1) and October 1 (notification after December 1).

For more scholarship information and application: ISID Small Grants

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Parents and guardians and or caretakers are advised to pack the right food to the school going children. Foods like Breads, crackers, cassava and sweet potatoes pieces are good for your school going children during break time.

Because these foods provide energy needed to fuel the body throughout the day, fresh fruits like bananas, apples, oranges, mangoes and tangerines are also ideal since they provide vitamins and minerals.

Minerals and vitamins prevent diseases but perishable fruits should be handled with a lot of care. One should ensure that the perishable fruits are stored in a cool dry place and clean containers because they can easily go bad.

Dried fruits like sun-dried bananas, pineapples and pawpaw can easily be kept and less susceptible to contamination. These provide calories that restore the child’s worked-up energy.

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Latest research shows that among the dirtiest places in our homes/ houses, toilets or chickens are the doors.

The research discoveries indicate that doors harbour all sorts of diseases causing organisms.

The germs on door handlers are introduced by people that touch them depending on what one is suffering from for example alimentary canal germs, viruses, common cold, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

Some people especially in Africa don’t clean their hands after toilet use but they simply touch on the door handles.

Some diseases/ infections like red eyes infections can be minimised by hand  washing with soap and running water and it should be at least once a day or more times.

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Our health news team today is informing you how garlic can better be used to get most out of it. Several herbal clinics, hospitals and small health centres recommend people to add garlic on their daily menu.

To get most out of garlic, it is recommendable that people consumes or eats in its raw form.

Medical experts say that garlic should be finely chopped or crushed before it is eaten. Get chopped or crushed garlic and add it to food shortly before serving starts.

The cooking and microwaving garlic degrades its alcidine and reduces its potential benefits. Alternatively, you can also take dried or powdered garlic tablets to boost your body immunity to diseases.

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