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Allied Health -E.A, Kiboga Main Street, Kiboga (2025)

03/06/2025

PS03:
Immunology diagnostics.

"Make life a priority. Life is a miracle" hand picked
from an interview that was made with one of the world's most down to earth person. Who once became the president of Uruguay late Jose Mujica. As an incumbent president, eye witnesses say he tried much as possible not to splash the hard earned taxpayer's resources into luxury. To an extent that he evaded a presidential jet to buy a state owned helicopter for emergency delivery of accident victims to nearby health facilities.
May his soul rest in peace. May the almighty strengthen his family.

Its a beautiful sunny day of June here in western Uganda.
as we are continuing with our series on Diagnostics available in Uganda by 2025.

In simple terms, immunological tests target the interaction between antibodies and and antigens to identify , detect and measure substances in biological samples like blood, urine and tissues.

Use the following outline to know whether the test you are recommending is readily available within your locality.
-brucella and agglutination test.
-CD4 count.
-D-dimer test.
-hiv screening.
-hiv viral load.
-hepatitis screening.
-HepB surface antigen test.
-HepB surface antibody.
-HepB envelope antibody.
-HepB core antibody.
-Hiv pcr test.
-Rheumatoid factor.
-Syphillis test.
-Serum CRAG
-Typhoid/salmonella typhi antigen.

Thats all for today. see you next time for the last part.

image credit: Amref
-Widal

01/06/2025

Big shout out to one of our newest top fans! Moses Sunday for your persistent engagement and review.
We hope that you are sharing the fire.

20/05/2025

PST....M02.

Clinical Chemistry.

"You may not find medicines there. You may wait longer. But you will get the right diagnosis. Do more relevant tests at lower costs."

Such a raw statement is not new to a seasoned community health practitioner.

We continuously find clinical chemistry tests vital to our clients. We work, most of the times on self medication culprits. Who want there symptoms to be relieved as fast as possible. Yet the underlying causes are left untouched.
We are called upon to always go beyond the symptoms. Make proper recommendations and referrals too. It's not a sign of weakness.

Clinical chemistry tests basically focus on analysis of body fluids (blood and urine) to diagnose, monitor diseases and organ functions such as liver, pancreas.

Below are tests you ought to familiarize yourself with. Where and how much one needs to perform one.
1. Antifilaggrin Antibodies (AFA).
2. Amylase.
3. Andrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH).
4. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA ).
5. Blood glucose.
6. Bone profile test.
7. Carcinoembryonic Antigen test (CEA).
8.Cortisol.
9. C-peptide.
10. Cancer Antigen test (CA 19-9).
11. Estradiol.
12. Ferritin.
13. Glycosylated Hb test.
14.HBV immunity (SAB).
15.Hepatitis A antibody.
16.Hepatitis A IGM/IGG.
17.Histology.
18.Lactate.
19. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).
20.Lipid profile.
21.Magnesium.
22. Oral glucose tolerance test.
23.Parathyroid hormone.
24. Perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P.ANCA).
25. Prostate specific antigen (PSA).
26. Renal function test.
27. Troponin.
28. Thyroid function test.
29. Uric acid.
30. Vitamin B12.

Finally, take time to know something on each of those tests. It takes more time and resources to get specialists in that field. But it only requires practicing professionals a few hours or days per week to get some basics applicable to their patients.

See you soon.

Image credit: /UVRI and LSHTM Uganda research unit.

Health and Diagnostics Services.
laboratory Technology Board.

14/05/2025

PST M01
A country wide view of Diagnostic services in Uganda.

somewhere in the lines of the book i read last before asking for a gap year said " The actual sight of a poor house that a negro has built is 10x more potent than pages of discussion about that he ought to build or perhaps could build."

in 2022, Microhaem Scientifics located in Mukono (Namanve industrial park) was inaugurated.

Diagnostics are a cornerstone in a holistic medicine practice. Yet, in practice, the health seeking behavior of most individuals views it as a strategy by healthcare providers to extract more money from them.
Many NCD patients have not been briefed of regular body checks. One area we require all healthcare providers to be upfront about it while assisting patients.

Today we are running a country wide campaign to see what type of test are available in Uganda. we are cognizant of the fact that this platform has members across the country. in the same spirit even those beyond particularly in the East African block are welcome.

In the comment section, state your district of service, services and average cost. you may also tag that specific facility to assist others who may be in need in the near future.

On this platform we shall provide a general list to act as the baseline. Tt has been adopted from three hospitals outside Kampala and its metropolitan area. These were .Mary's Lacor in Gulu, .Elgon hospital in Mbale and Memorial Hospital in Mbarara.

The lists are categorised into 5 sections; haematology, immunology, microbiology, clinical chemistry and radiology.
we shall be covering one by one.

A. Haematology
1.Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT).
2.Bleeding/clotting time
3.Complete Blood Count (CBC)
4.Coomb's test.
5.Cross match
6.Coagulation test.
7.Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate (ESR)
8.Film examination and reporting
9.Haemoglobin.
10.Haemoglobin eletrephoresis.
11.Protein electrophoresis.
12.Prothrombin Time (PT)/ international normalisation ratio (INR).
13.Reticulocyte count.
14.Sickle cell screening.

Thats all for now. more are to follow in the next posts.
Don't forget to share with others. There are so many who don't know that these services have been extended to upcountry residents. Your kindness will save someone unnecessary expenditures and troubles of long journeys.

03/04/2025

Community and the Neighborhood.

Tit-tat Facts on Malaria Vaccine.
"The vaccine was designed to lower severe sicknesses and risk of death but not to confer complete immunity "
Its a honest statement that experts involved really want all health workers to acknowledge and guide masses accordingly.

This week the ministry of health in Uganda joined other countries to launch country wide vaccination campaigns against one the known and dreaded scourge to tropical residents. Joining Countries like Nigeria and Kenya.

Today we bring some Tit-tat Facts for awareness. Community health practitioners face more people in need of health services than those in institutional setups. So take upon your self to be in the know.
However, let this list be your core.

Name: R21/Matrix -M. Mostly being referred to as Matrix -M malaria vaccine.

Maker: The serum institute of India and the Oxford university

Dosage: At Month 6, 7, 8 and 18 counting from birth.

Target population: Below 2 years. Since they're most affected and their immunity easily adopts.

Target in the body. Attack Sporozoites before reaching the liver.

Duration of protection: Between 1-2 years and consequently require booster doses to sustain the immunity.

Effect on Malaria tests:
Microscopic (Blood smear); makes detection of mild or asymptomatic cases more difficult since it decreases malaria parasite counts in blood.

Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT); No false positives should be there since the vaccine does not introduce antigens.
However, false negatives maybe found in mild cases where the vaccine may decrease the parasite load below the RDT detection threshold.

So then what tests can be done?
Consider PCR for confirmatory tests.

Health workers be reminded, that the vaccine is for infants. Other children between 2-12 years are still exposed. Similarly the adolescents, adults and the elderly without forget the vulnerable pregnant woman.

Our existing methods for control and prevention as well as treatment guidelines are still in place and viable. Continue emphasizing them.
Pregnant women with IPT and susceptible sickle cell children with P.S.

Finally, it was important for our NCD and patient safety page share something about the malaria vaccine.
Antibiotics should not be misused for failure to diagnose mild malaria cases.

Equally, as pharmacogilancy advocates receive and report ADEs following immunisation to the National drug authority. Various platforms are there to give you support. The website has a section for you, the medsafety app and the WhatsApp number.

That's all for now. Always wishing you fulfillment and progress in your service to humanity.

Image credit: Chatgpt image generator.

03/02/2025

Big shout out to our new rising fans! Jamirah Halls taking the lead in the new year. 💪💪💪
And to the rest, mucho love.🥰🥰

14/01/2025

The Welcoming and Farewell.
"What to do if all was not achieved"

Fellow country men and women, allow us extend our heartfelt and warm greetings to you all across the nation. Of course and beyond. Those in South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

It's really a great feeling seeing you transition to this year 2025. And seeing you achieving more goodness in it is more than we can ask for!

A lot has transpired through the past year. Ups and downs for just thinking about them effortlessly stirs tears to roll down our cheeks.
As a people, for the goals we didn't achieve, the promises we unintentionally breached, the bruises we caused, people whose lives we didn't improve even though we were in position and those we offended in any way.

We lay before you to be corrected. We are up to make things better this year. Not just between us but also our generation and those part of it.

That withstanding,
let's keep our hopes high and faith higher.
Let's keep our belief in the eternal truths that;

Humans are inherently good people just as any creation by God is beautiful.

Humans are on earth following a devine plan with unique abilities and purposes.
That we're for the services of others for the benefit of us.

Finally, let's continue being contributing members of the communities we are part. Not being limited by our professions and salary. But yielding to our ingenuity and knowledge of the years.

Keep learning, as for us we shall keep you informed. In our next post will be our year planner.

Image credit: Chatgpt

31/05/2024

The Stars of a Professional Community Pharmacy Practitioner.

How many of them do you practice quotidian?
How many of them does your colleague practice quotidian?
How many times do you acknowledge that?

Its been a while without sharing here. Belated cordial congs to those who had some victories 🥰🥰. And prayers of comfort to those who experienced trying moments. ! pamoja! 🙏🙏As we pledged "come pain, come happiness. Together till the end". Sharing with you for the betterment of the profession far beyond hoping and wishing.

Together with all of you who want to be remembered by generations to come. That the practice is better because you were part of it during your time. Continuing from the previous message.

A friend simplified our intentions with a quote by Denis Wattle "There are two primary choices in life, to accept things as they exist or accept the responsibility for changing them". for our case, we chose the latter.

As a team, we came up with what we call the 12 stars of professionalism. To paint a clear picture of what we should consistently live by in practice and at the same time guide patients and care takers as well. Its far more definite than that taught in school. Based on Hippocratic oath and laid below;

1. Competence/specialized knowledge. having attained both theoretical and practical knowledge and passed by merit.
2. Licensed. being registered with the respective labour organization (UAHPC).
3. Up to date. well equipped with current knowledge, practices and technologies.

4. Acts in the best interest of the patient. serve in a way that puts patients' safety and wellness first.
5. Respect patient rights. as regards privacy, confidentiality and choice.
6. Leadership oriented. through being proactive, punctual and supervising of duties you assigned to others to help you.

7. Accountability. taking responsibility of one's errors & proper record keeping.
8. Presentability. hold a high standard of personal standards and behavior.
9. Politeness. being warmhearted, considerate
10. Kindness. being humane and sympathetic.
11.Honesty. serve within the limits of your knowledge and competency.
12. Integrity. showing consistency in words and actions. like associating with ads that are truthful and accurate. not for the sake of only profiting.

I submit towards us to uphold professionalism at or away from work places. Deliberately resist temptations from market forces, societal pressure and administrative exigencies.

Thats all for now, see you soon.
In the next article will focus on professionalism of employers. Who is worth to work for? Who is well prepared to exploit you ? This is the information we were not lucky enough to get. You have the opportunity to get it, use it don't, hoard it.

Image credit: created by alliedhealthEA @ AI feature

17/12/2023

How professionalism started in Africa.

Reviving professionalism in community pharmacy today.

My teammates shared with me a 10 page essay. It covered a theme that had stained my thoughts for sometime. Though couldn't bring it out. The author asked a reader to rate the service from their recent visit. To rate it according proffesional performance 0-5 scale.

A non-medical personnel may hadly know about proffesional qualities but a glimpse. A glimpse of what they ought to expect. But health workers also do fall sick. Our dear ones do fall sick too .So I did have an experience to draw from.

It was a beautiful article with embedded golden nudges. The author was contemplating of the rapidly degrading professionalism in health care in the recent generations than ever before. With vivid examples in retail pharmacy, drug marketing and institutional care centers.

Expounding it from it's origin and historical background, letter by letter, syllable per syllable.
✓Defining it from a practitioners' rather than a lecturers' view.
✓Highlighting it's impact in provision of holistic care.
✓How to identify proffesional qualities of employees or employers.
✓Grooming professionalism in thy self or your work place.

Finally, many articles like the one above. Do put much emphasis to professionalism of an employee. And so neglect defining it from an employer's perspective. This has landed so many professional employees into hands of unprofessional employers.

Keep on the platform. We shall be bringing it all to you. As you make your new years resolutions so you can incorporate necessary adjustments for a better service to our generation.

See you in the sequel....

Image caption: Pharmacy students on what they do best.

29/09/2023

Modern Pharmacy Practice: Uncovering the new face of Polypharmacy.

Find out who is at great risk.

Records released on BMC website by Ssonko et al,2018 indicated that about 15 people among a group of one hundred are confirmed to be victims of .

It's an improper practice that many CPPs are victims without knowing!

The evidence present is not negligible. Highlighting that Chronic patients and inpatients are at the greatest risk. Among which older adults have the highest percentage and those most adversely affected. Other factors, comorbidity and multimorbidity.

" given to the elderly need to be assessed on all aspects of elderly patients considering comorbidity, complex treatment regimens, functional and cognitive status, the goal of therapy and quality of life"

These groups mentioned earlier require extra care while filling their prescriptions. So as to eliminate any drug with an incorrect indication and duplicated options. Negative effects following polypharmacy in general cannot be explained in a single post. Some are immediate but some take their time.
Among them are;
> Increased hospital admissions.
>Prolonging of hospital stays.
> Reduced health related quality of life.
> Increases non-compliance drug use.
> Increased geriatric syndrome.
> Increased risk of a prescription cascade.

Caution!!!⚠️⚠️
OTC medicines have been highly associated with polypharmacy and it horrible effects. Case in point, a friend sent me a set of medicines that had been given to her elderly mum. After she had visited a CP complaining of a cold, fresh dry cough and fatigue from a long journey (Kamwenge to Kira-Wakiso). The options were Betapyn tabs, Benylin Codeine syrup and Aerius tables. No one would wish that for their elderly Mums.

One ought to consider the multiple components of majority of OTC meds.

Finally, on the first comment reply with a code AM CPP. To join a private CPD group.

That's all for today. See you soon 🤝🤝🤝

02/09/2023

What Community Pharmacy Practitioners Ought to Know about Food.
For the benefit of your patients .

Continuation Post.

Earlier this year, I read an article on the Uganda NCD Alliance website. It reported that 5M people globally passed away as a result of obesity. A number enough to combine a population of three rural district in the country .

Continuing from the previous post. With the aim of equiping you community pharmacy practitioners (CPPs) with hints to enable patients make informed choices pertaining their nutrition.

To start with, a big hello to new members on the platform. Extrapolated in comments.
# Isingoma Ibrahim and others.
Please be at ease to impact.

As diverse as we are in culture, so we are in nutrition. For instance, sorghum/Millet/Gwana in northern Uganda versus Matoke and Irish as you traverse to the south.

However different it appears to a layman eye, it is just one thing to a nutritionist. It's all carbohydrates, split into bad and good carbohydrates.
The bad carbs rapidly raise blood glucose while the good ones don't rapidly raise blood glucose.

The good carbs should be recommended in favor of the bad carbs. It's critical in Diabetes mellitus nutrition and obese patients. And the general population at large as a preventative approach.
Logically, tend to lower hyperglycemic episodes which consequently reduce the risk for developing complications. From peripheral neuropathy, through insulin resistance to retinopathy.

Bad carbs include;Sodas, Irish and Sweet potatoes, white (rice,bread, noodles), purely refined maize grains(very white maize flour).

Good carbs include; whole grains (like minimally refined maize grains), brown rice and many more.

Finally, I call upon you to make the lists above bigger. Use the principal of glycemic index to make them more relevant to your target audience.

Let the fire(knowledge) burn longer by sharing it generously and referring others to the platform.

Image credit: Daily Monitor
Motive: Uganda Empya, where school children have a standard nutrition program.

25/08/2023

What Community Pharmacy Practitioners know about food.
For the benefit of their patients.
(Continuation Post)

Whenever talks about healthy foods arise at my work place in Kiryateete-Hoima. Narrates Kebirungi our guest. Everyone blames fats. It's like they're the main reason and yet even the health people I know do eat them.
Its way back from schools as we generation z people.

Kebirungi upto now the fat prejudice bothered her until we worked through it together. It was a great time sharing with her.

The session started with our Mlima asserting that for one's poor health is a combination of factors were fats are part of the sequel. Proteins and carbohydrates too play a critical role.

Dieticians cartegorise fats into good and bad fats. Or saturated and unsaturated fats.

The unsaturated/good fats have got cardio protective benefits when taken. This applies only when they're eaten in moderation. These include: polyunsaturated fats which are of vegetable origin, liquid at room temperature, commonly found in corn, soya bean, dun flower as well as omega 3 fatty acids from mainly Nile perch in Uganda. Also research indicates cod liver; and monosaturated fats, still of vegetable origin like avocado, peanut and olive oil.
Check on this link for pictures and more examples
https://modernconsumers.com/trans-fat-versus-saturated-fat/

The bad fats. These are basically into saturated, trans and hydrogenated fats. Saturated are from animal sources, solid at room temperature. Such as lard, cheese, butter and red meat. Even our cooking oils from palms and corn.Trans fats are predominantly used in fast foods like snacks.

Finally, advise patients to try their level
Best to read the fat content from the nutritional fact panal. They should select products with 0 trans fat content.

That's all for today, see you soon.

Allied Health -E.A

03/06/2025

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20/05/2025

14/05/2025

03/04/2025

03/02/2025

14/01/2025

31/05/2024

17/12/2023

29/09/2023

02/09/2023

25/08/2023

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