Treating malaria locally in Lukwanga

Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite has been historically a very serious health problem in Uganda. Currently it accounts for 24-40% of all out patient visits at health facilities and 20% of hospital admissions (Ministry of health Uganda National Malaria Control Policy, 2000).

The common signs and symptoms of simple malaria are fever, headache, joint pains, muscle ache, sweating, vomiting and loss of appetite.

This article represents simple recipes of preparing local herbs for malaria treatment in the rural areas in Uganda.

In most of the rural areas, the first action taken when malaria is suspected is treating the sick person at home. Treating of sick person in most rural homes in Uganda involves the use of traditional medicines. People that normally use these medicines usually do so because it’s cheap and within reach, reducing the consequence of cost and distance. Commonly used traditional herbs include ‘Mululuza” (Vernonia amygodalina), “Neem-tree” (Azedaract indica), “Nyambala butonya” (Callistemon citranatus) and ‘Ekigajji’. All these plants, the most commonly used plant parts are the leaves. Water is the most common solvent and the oral route is the most commonly used.

ALIN IS ACCESS TO LEARNING AWARD WINNER 2011

Each year the BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION through their foundation's Global Libraries initiative, the Access to Learning Award (ATLA) recognizes the innovative efforts of public libraries or similar organizations outside the United States to connect people to information through free access to computers and the Internet.

Join me to congratulate ALIN that promotes information exchange through maarifa centres, for winning the 2011 Access to learning Award . Follow this link to get more information about this award http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ATLA/Pages/access-to-learning-award-overview.aspx

HEALTH TIP, AIDS DISEASE!

Introduction

Uganda is estimated to have a population of about 25-30 million in 2002 - 2007. The extreme mortality of AIDS victims has had an effect on this figure, which would otherwise be higher. As another consequence of AIDS, healthy life expectancy in Uganda is only around 50 years.

People have been warned about HIV and AIDS for over twenty years now. AIDS has already killed millions of people, millions more continue to become infected with HIV, and there's no cure– so AIDS will be around for a while yet. Read more lukwanga2011@gmail.com/docs

BANANA BACTERIAL WILT (BBW)

Introduction
Banana Bacterial wilt (BBW) caused by xanthromonas campetris PV musacrearum is a new banana disease that Started in Mukono District in central Uganda (Mukono District) in September 2001. Until recently this little known disease was reported only in Ethiopia where affects young and occasionally mature cultivated bananas. In Uganda, BBW has been observed in nearly all cultivated banana varieties causing wilting of plants at all ages. When plants are affected at fruiting stage, bunches ripen pre-maturely with reddish brown discoloration in banana fingers. Male buds also wither off. The fruits in affected plants cannot be eaten by both man and animals. for example the disease in Uganda has caused damage to both kayinja (beer banana) and matooke. It currently affects 27 districts in Uganda, mainly to the north and east of Kampala, including Wakiso, Mukono and Kampala city. In each district the infection is localized, however the disease is rapidly filling the gaps. Its geographical spread it is rapid and it will reach the southern and western districts if not controlled.

The Science and Potential Risks of GMOs

The pressure to adopt GMOs in Africa is increasing steadily. There is need to strike a balance in attention according to issues that centre around GMOs. Some of these issues include food security, bio diversity, sustainable agriculture, regulation and legislation. Most of the decisions about GMOs are based on scientific facts so it is essential that scientists produce accurate information with a high degree of certainty in order to provide a good ground for negotiating against GMOs.

Implications and risks

• Health; Effects on gastrointestinal tracts: Inflammations, ulcerations and excessive growth of stomach and gut lining, disturbance of liver, pancreas and kidney function, disturbance of testes function alterations in haematology, altered body weight, allergen city/ immune responses, impacts on second generation. These effects are due to nutritional changes attributed to altered level of existing or presence of new toxins, new allergens, anti nutrients and altered levels of existing nutrients (e.g. vitamins).
  

• Contamination of food e.g. Bt rice, food crops through cross pollination, seed, wild or cultivated relatives and centers of origin (maize in Mexico)

• Environment; Impact on pollinators e.g. bees, beneficial organisms e.g. Lady birds, lace wings, moths, butterflies, soil food web - plant interaction, invasiveness (super weeds, e.g. RR soya in Argentina), forest (soya in Argentina) and emergence of secondary pests.

• Bio diversity and agro bio diversity

• Sustainable agriculture

• Food security

For more on this visit www.lukwangackc@gmail.com