Category: Health

The national campaign to spray against mosquitoes aimed at controlling the spread of malaria in the country has been impromptly suspended just two days after it had started in Nyagatare and Gisagara districts.

This sudden halting of the spray exercise aroused a string of unsubstantiated rumours. The exercise had been launched at the beginning of August.

Information from Rwanda Biomedical center (RBC) indicated that the exercise was suddenly suspended owing to the death of one of the staff that was involving in the spraying exercise.

The exercise will not resume until results of a Postmortem conducted on the deceased are released to determine the exact cause of his death.

Over 240 homes were scheduled to be sprayed in districts of Nyagatare, Bugesera and Gisagara.

ORINFOR

Scientists have published the most detailed analysis to date of the human genome.

They’ve discovered a far larger chunk of our genetic code is biologically active than previously thought.

The researchers hope the findings will lead to a deeper understanding of numerous diseases, which could lead to better treatments.

More than 400 scientists in 32 laboratories in the UK, US, Spain, Singapore and Japan were involved.

Their findings are published in 30 connected open-access papers appearing in three journals, Nature, Genome Biology and Genome Research.

The Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (Encode) was launched in 2003 with
the goal of identifying all the functional elements within the human genome.

A pilot project looking at 1% of the genome was published in 2007.
Now the Encode project has analysed all three billion pairs of genetic code that make up our DNA.

They have found 80% of our genome is performing a specific function.

Up to now, most attention has been focused on protein-coding genes, which make up just 2% of the genome.

Junk DNA

Genes are small sections of DNA that contain instructions for which chemicals – proteins – they should produce.

The Encode team analysed the vast area of the genome sometimes called “junk DNA” because it seemed to have little function and was poorly understood.

Dr Ewan Birney, of the European Bioinformatics Institute in Cambridge, who led the analysis, told me: “The term junk DNA must now be junked.

“It’s clear from this research that a far bigger part of the genome is biologically active than was previously thought.”

Switches

The scientists also identified four million gene “switches”. These are sections of DNA that control when genes are switched on or off in cells.
They said the switches were often a long way along the genome from the gene they controlled.

Dr Birney said: “This will help in our understanding of human biology. Many of the switches we have identified are linked to changes in risk for conditions from heart disease to diabetes or mental illness.

This will give researchers a whole new world to explore and ultimately, it’s hoped, will lead to new treatments.”

Scientists acknowledge that it is likely to be many years before patients see tangible benefits from the project.

But another of the Encode team, Dr Ian Dunham said the data could ultimately be of help in every area of disease research.

“Encode gives us a set of very valuable leads to follow to discover key mechanisms at play in health and disease. Those can be exploited to create entirely new medicines, or to repurpose existing treatments.”

Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute director Prof Mike Stratton said the results were “remarkable” and would “stand as a foundation stone for human biology for many years”.

He added: “The Encode project will change the way many researchers conduct their science and give those who seek to understand disease a much better grasp of where genetic variation can affect our genome for ill.”

BBC

Although Government of Uganda had earlier mentioned that the deadly Ebola disease had been contained, two new cases have emerged in Kibale district- the same place where several people succumbed to the deadly viral epidemic.

Medical officials in Kibaale district have registered two new suspected Ebola cases.

Uganda’s Monitor reported that Gertrude Keneema (25) and her four-year child, Tidiya Birungi, were admitted to Kagadi Hospital isolation ward on Sunday afternoon with clinical symptoms similar to those of Ebola.

“They are admitted in an isolation ward at the hospital. They have received medication and they are stable,” the District health officer Dr Dan Kyamanywa said Tuesday.

He says medical experts then carried out investigations to establish whether they had come into contact with an Ebola patient.

“They do not have that history,” Dr Kyamanywa said adding that the two had fever, and were vomiting as well as passing blood.

“We extracted a blood sample from them and sent it to the Uganda virus research institute for testing” Kyamanywa added.

Over 17 million women in East Africa are reportedly using birth control contraceptives a study has revealed.

The study was conducted by African Population and Health Research on the population and use of contraceptives in Africa.

It indicates that among the married couples, the number of women who use modern methods of family planning has also risen from 20 million to 27 million.

In 2008 only 12 million women in East Africa were using contraceptives but a continent-wide study has shown a increase to 17 million in 2012.

According to United Nations Populations Fund report 2010, the population of East Africa is estimated at 131 million people.

The study results were released in Kampala-Uganda during a meeting by Africa women parliamentarians to discuss issues of leadership, family planning and reproductive health.

“Compared to other regions, East Africa is doing somehow well but more funding is needed to help more women, especially in rural areas, access the contraceptives,” said Dr. Estelle Sidze one of the facilitators.

She noted that lack of contraceptives has led to increased school dropouts, death as a result of complicated pregnancies and increased cases of unsafe abortions.

The Deadly Ebola disease has brokenout in DRC where seven people have been reported dead and others admited to clinics.

DRC Minister of Public Health, Felix Kabange Numbi said August 17, confirmed twelve cases, including seven deaths were recorded in Province Orientale.

Kabange has urged all Congolese to avoid touching any animal found dead in the forest or eating meat.

“We must also avoid touching unprotected blood, vomit or urine of a patient having viral haemorrhagic fever,” he adds.

The minister assured that “the faster these preventive measures are applied, the faster the spread of disease will be stopped.”

The last cases of Ebola were reported in the DRC in 2007 in the region of Mweka and Luebo (Kasai Occidental), killing one hundred and sixty-eight people on four hundred patients registered in four months.

Radiookapi

Ebola vaccine may never be developed to prevent the onset of infection of the lethal viral disease–scientists have said.

This follows the cutting of funding for research on Ebola.Two companies with leading vaccine candidates have had their funding from the Pentagon suspended in recent weeks.

Research into development of a vaccine have been mainly funded by the US Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health pouring millions of dollars into scientific research because of concerns that the virus could be turned into a biological weapon.

Ebola is often described as the most frightening disease on Earth.The virus causes a severe haemorrhagic fever, where victims bleed both internally and externally.

An expert said it was now “unlikely” a prophylactic vaccine would ever be used to prevent outbreaks of the disease.

Since the Pentagon began funding this research, several vaccine candidates have been developed and have shown themselves effective in animal trials.

Two companies, Sarepta and Tekmira have begun human safety trials of their vaccines.

However, in recent days, both companies have been told by the Defense Department to temporarily stop work on their vaccines due to funding constraints.

It is expected that a decision to either resume testing or completely terminate the contracts will be made by early September.

Scientists say their understanding of the nature of the virus has markedly improved over the past decade.

But the chances of turning that knowledge into a vaccine are very dependent on money.

Ebola in Uganda

Experts from the WHO and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention are in Uganda to advise health officials responding to the outbreak.

Uganda has experienced three outbreaks of Ebola since 2000 when 224 people were killed.

At least 42 people were killed in another outbreak in 2007, and there was a single confirmed case in 2011.

Close to 17 people have died as a result of the latest outbreak that had Kibaale District, in the west of the country, as its epicentre.

According to International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Rwanda, there is one doctor per over 15, 000 people.

In England or Belgium, a doctor is in charge of 600 people In order to ensure a better healthcare for the population, meanwhile the Ministry of health has planned to have one doctor per 10,000 citizens by 2020.

In an interview with a patient at CHUB who was treated under surgery operation he mentioned that, he waited for almost a month to be treated.

The fact is there are few doctor specialized in this surgery operation available at the hospital and it takes time to be confirmed on the list of those who will be treated.

A parent with a child to be operated said, “sometimes we have to wait to be transferred to Kigali and during the waiting, the patient suffers more than before and it may result into death without meeting doctor”

Sebineza Joseph from Ministry of health in charge of Public Health facilities explains that the gap in health sector is known and its why there are partnerships with IOM for Africa Development and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to enhance the linkage of the Rwanda Diaspora with their home country as well as other agreements as a way to increase the effort invested in healthcare.

This is done through facilitating volunteers including; qualified Rwandan health professionals living abroad and other foreigners that wish to make meaningful contribution to public health sector development effort in Rwanda by sharing their knowledge, experience and talent, donation of their time and effort to save lives and help the country to achieve its ambitious health and Millennium goals.

Dr Nicholas Capello of IOM Rwanda Project volunteer, is an orthopedic surgeon from USA volunteering at the university Teaching Hospital of Butare known as CHUB.

He told IGIHE that there is a big number of patients and few specialist doctor to handle the patients, “This is very challenging. The number of specialists is currently limited compared to the number of cases to be treated, but we have to appreciate what is going on for the progression.”

Before the arrival of Dr Nicholas, it wasn’t easy to operate patients most of whom were refered to university Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK).

However, with Dr. Capellos help the challenge has been overcome. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.

CHUB’s Dr. Dr Ndoli said that government may keep looking for the projects like IOM and increasing sensitization campaign about Volunteer programs.

Uganda Capital, Kampala is currently in panic following confirmation that a woman who died at Mulago hospital a few days ago was suffering from Ebola.

The woman had travelled from Kibale district where 14 people died from Ebola on Saturday. she was a health worker who had been handling the Ebola patients.

The Government of Uganda has immidiately banned any physical contact among citizens.

Schools in Uganda are reportedly closing in response to the Ebola news that has caused panic.

Clare Muhumuza 40, was admited at uganda’s largest hospital Mulago and died within a few hours. She was the clinical officer treating the patients at Kagadi Hospital.

“She came to Mulago very sick and by morning she was dead. She suffered multiple organ failure,” said a senior doctor in Mulago.

Foruteen Ugandans had been reported dead on Saturday when the deadly viral disease was reported in Kibale located 200km west of the Ugandan capital.

Mulago health workers admited they were in fear saying they had handled Muhumuza without protection in ignorance.

Currently Suzan Nabulya, a sister to the late Muhumuza, who was tending to her before she died, has been admitted at Kagadi Hospital while Muhumuza’s four month old baby, Milca Ninsima, has died.

Uganda and Rwanda are experiencing increased crossboarder inteructions on a daily basis through business and other forms of engagements.
Understanding Ebola

Cause: Ebola is caused by a virus belonging to a family called filovirus. There are five distinct types of the virus namely Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, Ebola Côte d’Ivoire, Ebola Bundibugyo and Ebola Reston.

Transmission: The disease is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, fluids or bodies of infected persons.

Family members and health workers handling the patients can become infected easily if they do not wear protective facilities such as gloves and masks. Ebola is not air borne.

Symptoms: The average incubation period is 21 days. The disease is characterised by sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat.

This is often followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

Treatment: No specific treatment or vaccine is yet available for Ebola haemorrhagic fever.

There is neither a cure nor a vaccine for Ebola. The patients are given symptomatic treatment to reduce pain and prevent dehydration.

Several potential vaccines and drugs are being tested but it could take years before any is available.

How to protect yourself

Isolate suspected cases from other patients

Wear gloves, goggles and masks while handling patients

Patients’ clothing should be disinfected with household bleach such as JIK

Areas contaminated with patient’s fluids should be disinfected with household bleach such as JIK

Avoid touching the bodies of those who have died of Ebola

People who have died from Ebola should be promptly and safely buried

A study conducted in Kenya and Uganda reveales that proper use of a new antiretroviral drug can reduce infection by 75% among discodant couples and 40% among hormosexuals.

World Health Organisation (WHO) says that people who are at a high risk of contracting the HIV virus could be protected if they adhered to new guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs issued by WHO.

This new set of guidelines will protect health workers, discordant couples, sex workers and babies, all of whom are at a high risk of getting infected with HIV virus.

These new guidelines are based on clinical trials in the UK indicating that a daily dose of oral antiretroviral medication, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), taken by HIV-negative people to reduce the risk of infection, is both safe for people to use and effective in preventing HIV.

WHO recommends that countries intending to introduce PrEP should first establish small projects to help public health workers better understand and realise PrEP potential benefits in preventing transmission of HIV.

Also public health workers should identify the most vulnerable groups at risk of contracting HIV for which ARVS should be given and ascertain the best ways to deliver the services to them.

The US government has hailed Rwanda’s progress made in the Health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This follows a meeting between Minister of Health Agnes Binagwaho July 27 and the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius.

Both leaders shared lessons from health reform efforts in Rwanda and the United States.

Dr. Binagwaho highlighted key drivers of the progress made in Rwanda saying the country’s success story has been a result of many strategies pursued simultaneously, including;

strong commitment of national and local leaders, rapidly scaling-up of proven technological and policy innovations, structures ensuring accountability at all levels in health sector, and a relentless focus on equity.

Sebelius explained that U.S government was increasing access to subsidised preventive services, based on a similar spirit to the preventive care package that is currently provided in Rwanda by RAMA.

Dr.Binagwaho responded by explaining that the package will be provided through mutuelles de santé in the future.

Secretary Sebelius and Minister Binagwaho exchanged ideas on areas for new collaborations between the United States global health programs and the Ministry of Health of Rwanda.

The two identified collaborative studies of the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, lung disease, and mental illness) for better prevention and treatment as a top priority.

There is currently little reliable evidence on these conditions in Rwanda and in the region, so this new research will be essential to the Ministry of Health’s efforts to prevent and treat these conditions.

The meeting occurred in the context of the nineteenth International AIDS Conference.

Rwandan delegation consisting of Ministry policymakers, researchers and civil society members traveled to Washington DC for the conference and shared Rwanda’s experience in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to take lessons from other countries around the world.

During the conference, the World Bank President, Dr. Jim Yong Kim urged the world to take lessons from Rwanda’s success in integrating HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment with broader anti-poverty mechanisms.

“From being an exception, [Rwanda’s] approach can become the rule,” Kim said. “This will be a leap forward in our capacity to build systems and deliver results.”

Dr. Binagwaho also met several US government officials to discuss Rwanda’s Human Resources for Health Program(HRH) and key considerations for the next set of global development goals after the end of the MDGs in 2015.