The Kenyan government will next month roll out a new drug meant to protect HIV-negative people from contracting the virus.   The drug, known as Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) will be given to those at high risk of contracting the virus before being made accessible to the rest of the population.   This is after pilot studies conducted in Kenya and Uganda showed that if taken once daily, the drugs can prevent HIV infection by more.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 14th March 2017

Junie* wakes up early in the morning. She's ill and preparing for a doctor's visit in one of the public hospitals.   When she arrives at 6.30am it's overflowing with patients. By noon she becomes anxious, irritated and approaches the nurse seeking an explanation for the six-hour delay.   Only when the nurse explains that they have been calling out her name since early morning, does it strike the nurse that Junie is deaf. She.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 13th March 2017

Nairobi — President Uhuru Kenyatta has once again appealed to doctors to consider the plight of Kenyans and return to work as a solution is sought for their grievances.   Speaking during a tour of Kiambu County on Saturday, the Head of State said that Kenyans were suffering and doctors should recognise this fact.   He emphasised the need for them to put patriotism first before striving for their interests.   "In.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 6th March 2017

Rome/Geneva — The United Nations health organisation has just published its first ever list of antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens" - a catalogue of 12 families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health.   The list was drawn up in a bid to guide and promote research and development (R&D) of new antibiotics, as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) efforts to address growing global resistance.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th March 2017

Kenyans are hopeful President Uhuru Kenyatta's meeting on Thursday with the heads of the Catholic and Anglican churches and doctors' union leaders will put an end to the misery caused by the 88-day-old doctors' strike.   The Nation has exclusively learned that the crisis meeting, which will be held at an undisclosed location in Nairobi, will bring together the President, Catholic Archbishop John Cardinal Njue, his Anglican counterpart.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 3rd March 2017

Kampala — The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) has drafted a Bill seeking to introduce contraceptives for children and teenagers aged between 10 and 19.   The Bill dubbed the EAC Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Bill 2017, if passed into law will bind the East African Community member states to provide contraceptives to all EAC citizens including children.   The Bill also seeks to legalise.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 2nd March 2017

Almost half of all Kenyans can't afford to consult a doctor when they fall sick. A team of young Kenyan IT specialists came up with a prize-winning plan to change that.   Ethredah Chao had just 72 hours to find a solution to one of Kenya's biggest problems.   "Almost half of the Kenyan population lives below the poverty line. That means that they cannot afford basic healthcare services," Chao told DW.   "They.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 1st March 2017

President John Magufuli has showered praise on the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), in particular, surgeons and staff who saved the life of one Neema Mwita Wambura who suffered severe burns on her body two years ago.   Ms Neema was allegedly burnt with boiling porridge by her husband in Kyagata village of Tarime District in Mara Region in 2014. She suffered severe injuries on her chest, neck and hands.   The Director of.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 25th February 2017

Dar es Salaam — The government has urged pharmaceutical firms from India to set up factories in the country to cut importation costs.   The call was made yesterday in Dar es Salaam during a business meeting with a delegation of 30 representatives of Indian companies touring the country.   Speaking during the meeting, Medical Stores Department (MSD) director general Laurean Bwanakunu said the government was spending at least.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 20th February 2017

Tanzania has featured prominently in this year's Bill and Melinda Gates annual letter celebrating progress in global health and poverty reduction.   The letter is addressed to couple by mutual friend Warren Buffet, who a few months ago asked Melinda and Bill to reflect on the impact his gift has had in the world.   Buffett, an American investor, business magnate, and philanthropist in 2006 donated the bulk of his fortune of $30.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th February 2017

Cairo — Barcelona star Lionel Messi has postponed a medical tourism campaign visit to Egypt following his side's 4-0 defeat against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.   Five-time world footballer of the year was scheduled to arrive in Cairo on Wednesday to promote Egypt's Tour n' Cure medical tourism campaign, launched by Egypt's government. The campaign is aiming to attract Hepatitis C patients to seek treatment.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th February 2017

Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) in partnership with India's BLK Super Specialist Hospital has conducted 20 heart surgeries, saving over 340m/- that could have been spent in undertaking the operations abroad.   JKCI Director of Cardiology Peter Kisenge said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the patients with mitral stenosis complications were attended to during a two-day camp that saw other patients undergoing special screening for.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th February 2017