Press Release on Marburg Virus

The Ministry of Health would like to remind the general public that caves and mines infested with bats in Western Uganda could still be a reservoir for Marburg virus.
   

On-going ecological studies have shown that about 5% of the fruit bats in Kitaka Mines in Kamwenge  District habour evidence of prior Marburg virus infection.

In Kitaka Mines for instance, 23 out of 400 bats were found to have evidence of previous infection with Marburg virus.  The mine has since been closed to the Public and occupational access since August 2007.  No further infections have been reported.  

However, we now have a July 10th 2008 Report from the Netherlands that a tourist who visited Maramagambo Python cave in Bushenyi District in June 2008 has developed Marburg virus disease in Holland.  

The Ministry of Health advises that whoever enters these caves or mines must take maximum precaution not to get into close contact with the bats and  non-human primates in the nearby forests.  

Dr Sam Zaramba
Director General Health Services

Read more at www.health.go.ug
 

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Mission statement

·        To provide the policies, guidance and standards; facilitate district health services and manage nationally based health services

·        To ensure the attainment of a good standard of health by all people in Uganda in order to promote a healthy and productive life

Strategic Objectives

• To establish policies, guidelines and standards for the delivery of a minimum health care package in the districts and at National level.
• To co-ordinate and facilitate all stakeholders in the health sector to achieve the national goals for health.
• To provide sufficient referral health care services so that patients who cannot be successfully treated at District level can receive appropriate medical attention.
• To ensure that sufficient health professional training is undertaken to meet national requirements and regulate the employment of all health professionals to ensure minimum standards of professional practice.
• To co-ordinate research activities in order to support health policy and programme improvements.
• To develop health infrastructure and quality assurance system that facilitates Districts and national planning and policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• To provide efficient and effective systems and interventions for the aversion of or early identification and control of epidemics

 Directorates and Departments of Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health is made up of the following Directorates:

• Directorate of Clinical and Community Services
• Directorate of Planning and Development
• Health Policy Analysis Unit
• Resource Center

Autonomous Bodies

·        Health Services Commission

Professional Councils:

·        Medical and Dental Practitioners Council

·        Nurses and Midwives Council

·        Allied Health Professionals Council

·        Pharmacists Council

Departments under Ministry of Health

v     National Medical Stores:

This was set up by the government as an autonomous body to procure and distribute drugs in the country.

v     National Drug Authority:

This is a National regulatory and supervisory body for drugs in the country.

v     Uganda Aids Commission:

This is currently under the President’s Office and is headed by the Director General Dr. Apuuli Kihumuro.

v     National Referral Hospitals:

1.      Mulago Hospital Complex

2.      Butabika Hospital

v     Uganda Blood Transfusion Unit:

It is mandated to collect and ensure availability of safe blood for transfusion in the country.

v     Uganda National Health Research Organization (UNHRO)

Comprises of several research institutes namely:

1.      Uganda Virus Research Institute

2.      National Chemotherapeutic Council

v     Regional Referral Hospitals:

1.      Jinja Hospital

2.      Kabale

3.      Mbarara

4.      Masaka

5.      Gulu

6.      Arua

7.      Mbale

8.      Soroti

9.      Fort Portal

v     HEALTH FACILITIES

It boasts of 104 hospitals, of which 57 are Government (44NGO’s and 3 Private), 250 health centres (179 Government, 68 NGO and 3 Private), palliative care 2 (government 1, NGO 1) and others (989 government, 352 NGO and 41 private).
 

v     Government Hospitals

Are in three categories; national referral, regional referral and district/rural hospitals.

National Referral

v     Mulago and Butabika

                  Regional Referral

v     Arua, Gulu, Hoima, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara and Soroti are teaching and resource centres to the regions they are situated in.

District/ Rural hospitals

v     Comprise the government hospitals not mentioned above.

Non-Government Hospitals

v     Nsambya, Rubuga, Mengo (Kampala district), Lacor (Gulu district), and Matany (Moroto district).

Training Institutions 

There are 41 training schools (30 government, 11 NGOs). They offer 34 types of courses, ranging from certificate to degree courses.

Research Institutions

Research institutions are under an umbrella body known as the Uganda National Health Research Organization, namely:

• Uganda Virus Research Institute
• Uganda Cancer Institute
• Uganda Tuberculosis Investigation Centre
• Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute
• Central Public Health Laboratory
• Uganda Trypanosomiasis Research Organisation
• Uganda Joint Clinical Research centre (research on HIV/AIDS/STD)
• Uganda Heart Institute

Professional Councils

There are four statutory professional councils. They insure good professional practice and quality of care. They are corporate bodies.

• Medical and Dental Practitioners Council
• Nurses and Midwives Council
• Allied Health Professional Council
• Pharmaceutical Council

Commissions

·         Health Services Commission

·         Uganda AIDS Commission

Pharmaceutical Institutions

• National Drug Authority
• National Medical Stores

Other Delivery Institutions

• Uganda Blood Transfusion Services
• Equipment Workshops
• Orthopaedic Workshops
• Public Health Laboratory

The number here given is not conclusive as there are many unreported private facilities especially in the urban areas

Others include dispensaries, maternity units, sub-dispensaries and dispensary-maternity units (DMU)

PUBLIC HEALTH

v     National Strategies for prevention of blindness

v     Cholera Updates

v     Making a difference for persons with disabilities

v     Guidelines for non communicable diseases at district level

v     HIV/AIDS in Uganda overview

v     HIV/AIDS Situational approach

v     Ear Nose & throat 5year Strategic Plan

v     Rehabilitative Health Care

v     Reproductive Health

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Plot 6 Lourdel Rd, Wandegeya Tel: 256-41-340884 Fax: 256-41-340887 P.O. Box 7272 Kampala Uganda Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it