Category: News

Gambella’s Urgent Maternal and Newborn Health Needs

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

“Providing quality maternal care in this context is extremely challenging,” explains Habtamu, CUAMM Midwife in Tomorok. “Beside clinical care, we educate women and families about hygiene, danger signs, and the importance of skilled birth attendance. Raising awareness in the community is crucial, especially where resources and services are limited.”

Refugee women in Gambella’s Nuer Zone face multiple maternal health needs, including access to quality antenatal, delivery, emergency obstetric, and postnatal care, as well as adequate nutrition and mental health support. These needs are often compounded by unsafe living conditions, food insecurity, psychological trauma, and limited access to essential services such as nighttime care, clean water, sanitation, and adequate infrastructure.

In the past three months alone, our mobile health teams have assisted dozens of deliveries at CUAMM’s Mobile Health Post in Tomorok, ensuring women could give birth safely despite shortages of equipment, infrastructure, and trained personnel. Yet, challenges remain: long distances to the closest hospital, limited transportation, and overstretched referral facilities make strengthening community-level care essential.

To respond to these growing needs, CUAMM rehabilitated a long-abandoned health post in Tomorok, now the closest facility to the Loakdong settlement, home to more than 21,000 South Sudanese refugees. Located 25 km from Nyinenyang General Hospital, the lack of nearby services had previously forced many women to give birth without any assistance. Today, thanks to CUAMM’s support, Tomorok Health Post offers lifesaving outpatient care, maternal and neonatal services, nutrition support, and stabilization of severe cases, with referrals available for complications. However, the facility is not equipped for childbirth care, and resources remain insufficient, meaning every birth remains a challenge for both women and health workers.

“Childbirth requires resources that are simply not available here,” says Riccardo Lazzaro, CUAMM Medical Coordinator in Gambella. “Yet we are committed to adapting our response and ensuring that no woman is left without care during one of the most critical moments of her life.”

The urgency is driven by the broader refugee crisis: Tor Gatluak, a 41-year-old father from South Sudan, recounts, “We fled our village when the bombs started falling. We walked for days with almost nothing before reaching safety.” He and his family arrived in Ethiopia this summer, joining thousands of others fleeing escalating violence in Upper Nile State.

Precise figures are difficult to determine, as the influx has continued since the resumption of hostilities in neighbouring South Sudan. Estimates indicate, however, that since February 2025, more than 80,000 refugees have arrived in Ethiopia’s Gambella Region, which already hosts over 400,000 refugees. The majority of new arrivals are women and children, placing enormous pressure on an already fragile health system—particularly for maternal and newborn care.

At registration points and temporary settlements such as Tomorok and Gade, Doctors with Africa CUAMM provides essential primary healthcare through mobile health clinics. Services include antenatal consultations, safe delivery support, vaccinations, and nutrition screening—often the only care available to pregnant women who have fled conflict, trauma, and food insecurity. Since October 2025, CUAMM has deployed two Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams in areas with no other healthcare actors. Despite insecurity and constant population movement, the teams have delivered continuous maternal and child health services, carried out over 16,000 outpatient consultations, screened more than 4,800 children and pregnant or lactating women for malnutrition, and supported referrals for life-saving care.

Present in Gambella since 2017, CUAMM combines emergency response with long-term health system strengthening, working to ensure that even in crisis settings, women can exercise their fundamental right to safe motherhood and dignified childbirth.

With the rapid escalating violence in South Sudan, humanitarian needs in the area are only expected to worsen in the months ahead. While we remain committed to adapting our response to the most urgent health needs, a collective action is critical to ensure that people fleeing violence—especially the most vulnerable—can access lifesaving basic services.

From Hospitals to Communities Being Where It Matters Most

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

One day, while I was on my way to a health facility for a supervision activity, I was informed that a mother was experiencing severe hemorrhaging. I immediately got into the ambulance with another midwife. When we arrived, the situation was critical: the woman was lying in a pool of blood. We worked together to stabilize her before transferring her to the hospital. I followed the case step by step to make sure she received everything she needed. In the end, it was a success. Knowing that your presence, at that exact moment, saved a person’s life… that is the energy that drives you to keep going.

Barbra, a Ugandan midwife who worked for many years in Aber with CUAMM, carries in her heart countless memories and stories of patients she will never forget. Growing together—amid daily challenges and the dream of making public health care accessible to all—has been the story of her life. Barbra has never stopped learning:

“Today I look back on my journey with deep pride, both as a woman and as a professional. When I joined this family, I had only a diploma in midwifery. Today, thanks to CUAMM’s support, I was able to resume my studies, earn a degree, and I am currently attending a Master’s program in Public Health, which I will complete next May.”

It has been—and still is—a path of professional and personal growth.

“There is an enormous difference between how I worked at the beginning and how I work today. The quality of the service I can offer has grown along with my skills. For this reason, my gratitude toward CUAMM is immense. My daily work is a constant source of inspiration.”

The health system has also grown stronger and is now more solid.

“When I look back, the improvements in health facilities are evident—from internal organization to the ability to manage emergencies. In past years, we faced extremely difficult challenges, especially due to shortages of medicines and medical supplies. However, we invested in training: today the staff is more aware and better prepared. Even when funds for supplies are lacking, facilities know how to respond to emergencies, and that gives me greater peace of mind.”

Present and future of the new generations

The real transformation has taken place above all in people’s mindsets.

“It takes time, but you learn how to interact better with patients and colleagues. I see this change even in those who were more resistant; when a midwife you are supporting looks at you with respect, you realize that people trust your work. Once, a supervisor told me: ‘You are our living dictionary. We are proud of you.’ Hearing those words is what pushes me to always give my best. Of course, challenges never disappear: in Uganda the system is changing, and with it the way training is delivered—we are still catching up. Our challenge is the gap between theoretical training and practice. Many facilities are becoming privatized, and often profit is prioritized over quality,” Barbra explains.
“At this very moment, we are bringing in 20 new midwives, many of whom have not worked for a long time and are not familiar with updated guidelines. Our task as the CUAMM team is to support the district: these new staff members need ‘mentors,’ senior midwives who can guide them step by step. It is a slow process, one step at a time—it feels like starting over—but we know we will succeed. I firmly believe we should invest more and more in continuous training and in motivating staff, offering them new responsibilities so they feel valued.”

Barbra’s greatest wish for the mothers and children of Oyam is that there be a real investment in public health, because everything begins in the community, with prevention.

“We must reach women in their homes and address problems where they begin: difficulties with transportation, lack of financial means, and the need to involve husbands so they support their wives. I hope we will reach a point where every man and every woman feels responsible for their own health through knowledge.”

Today, being both a midwife and a public health specialist allows her to see reality from multiple perspectives—from the hospital ward to the heart of the village.

FOUR YEARS OF WAR IN UKRAINE

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

Four years ago, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Soon after, the country would experience the horrors of war and all its consequences. Life for civilians would never be the same. As Doctors with Africa CUAMM, called to close solidarity, we decided to launch an intervention to support the Ukrainian people, aiming to provide healthcare in a moment of critical need, while also hoping to support a health system compromised by the conflict. At the core of this commitment: the supply of medicines and life-saving kits, as well as psychosocial support and training for local healthcare personnel.

In the early phase of the war, the rapid collapse of supply chains and the disruption of access to medicines and essential materials made healthcare access a central part of our humanitarian response, proving essential to maintaining service continuity.

What began as an emergency intervention has, unfortunately, continued into its fourth consecutive year. A period that cannot be measured in months, days, attacks, or downed drones, but must instead be reflected in human lives—those lost and those upended. Like Natalia, a 68-year-old woman we met in the summer of 2024. The Russian invasion forced her to leave Kherson, taking with her very little of what she had built in a lifetime. In an instant, Natalia became one of the 3.7 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine, accommodated in a reception center. The experiences of conflict and displacement can cause enormous trauma, and for people like Natalia who are alone, the psychological consequences are often invisible.

Or Maria, just 30 years old, who left Zaporizhzhia with her nine-year-old son after her brother was killed. Her city, close to the front line, witnessed heavy fighting in the early months of the conflict over control of the nuclear plant. Maria restarted her life in a reception center a few kilometers from Kyiv, and like many who lost everything, she received humanitarian assistance: food, hygiene supplies, and other essential goods.

Since 24 February 2022, the conflict in Ukraine has escalated continuously, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. According to the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP 2025), approximately 12.7 million people in Ukraine require humanitarian assistance, of whom 3.7 million remain internally displaced. Over these years, we have met thousands of people with stories like those of Natalia and Maria.

Today, as the conflict continues with no sign of a ceasefire and winter worsens the conditions for thousands of Ukrainian citizens, we continue to operate in the country with an intervention that integrates health and protection, pursuing the same goal as always: providing healthcare to civilians and supporting the national health system.

With the support of the Italian Cooperation, we are working in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions—areas with high-intensity hostilities, proximity to the front line, and severe pressure on essential services. In Kharkiv alone, around 478,000 internally displaced persons are estimated to be present (April 2025), while the Sumy area has been consistently affected by bombardments related to border operations initiated in August 2024. Both regions report severe infrastructure damage, disruptions to essential health services, and a significant increase in mental health and protection needs.

Together with partners such as CESVI and Action Against Hunger (ACF), and with the support of local partners, we are implementing two interventions with activities including:

procurement and distribution of essential medicines, medical supplies, and consumables
structural rehabilitation interventions
delivery of emergency kits
capacity-building activities for healthcare personnel, in collaboration with UNFPA

Since 2022, Doctors with Africa CUAMM has been active in Ukraine responding to the health and humanitarian needs of civilians and health facilities affected by the war. Since then, we have:

reached over 120,000 people
supported 35 health facilities with essential medicines, emergency health kits, and medical equipment
organized 60 MHPSS events to address health, protection, and basic needs of displaced persons and host communities
conducted 10 training sessions on emergency psychology
completed 11 emergency deliveries within 72 hours through the Rapid Response Mechanism, in line with WHO Health Cluster standards.

Learn more about our work in Ukraine.

WOLISSO CELEBRATES 50 NEW DIPLOMAS

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

On Saturday, February 21 the main hall of the College of Midwifery and Nursing at St. Luke Hospital in Wolisso was crowded as 50 students got ready to receive their diploma. In the corridors, outside, and in that very hall, there was a festive atmosphere. The ceremony opened with Bishop Abune Lukas Teshome Fikre, who addressed the students with words of esteem and encouragement.

“Nursing and midwifery are more than professions, they are vocations of care. You are being sent into the world as instruments of healing, standing close to life at its most vulnerable moments—at birth, in illness, in suffering, and sometimes at the threshold of death. In these moments, your hands, your words, and your presence will often speak more powerfully than medicine alone.”

22 midwifery diplomas and 28 nursing diplomas were awarded to this class. For the students, it is the ending of a dream pursued and made true with dedication and passion, which, however, “does not mark the end of learning,” said Ann Christine Moscoso, General Manager of the St. Luke College of Midwifery and Nursing in Wolisso.

“Science and knowledge are constantly evolving, and to remain effective healthcare professionals, it is necessary to continue seeking new ideas, embracing new discoveries, and staying consistently updated,” she added.

Three years ago, all of them timidly walked through the gates of St. Luke college, aware of the commitment that lay ahead. Theoretical study, exercises, and clinical practice—all took place within the walls of this hospital, where Doctors with Africa CUAMM has been training healthcare professionals for over 25 years.

“This achievement is also a great joy for the entire Doctors with Africa CUAMM team, which was founded precisely as a college for students and doctors. In over 75 years of history and experience, Cuamm has remained faithful to its mission: improving the health of African communities and doing it together. This means investing in people—the people of Ethiopia, the students of the Catholic St. Luke Hospital—walking together and learning together,” said Maria Perrella – CUAMM Country Representative in Ethiopia, in her official speech.

The Wolisso School of Nursing and Midwifery opened its doors to students from various regions of the country in 2000, and since then, Doctors with Africa CUAMM has provided continuous support. The collaboration aims to increase the number of qualified healthcare professionals in the country, and so far, it has succeeded. To date, 970 diplomas have been awarded at the Wolisso School of Nursing and Midwifery, thanks in part to scholarships supported through Cuamm.

“Now more than ever, the world needs you. In moments of uncertainty, suffering, or joy—whether in the quiet of a maternity ward or the fast pace of an emergency room—you will be the calm, competence, and compassion capable of changing someone’s life. Never underestimate your role,” said Enzo Facci – Medical Director and CUAMM doctor.

CUAMM’s presence at the St. Luke College of Nursing and Midwifery in Wolisso is long-standing, a solid collaboration that has grown over the years in an effort to offer a better study experience to many young people. In the last ten years, CUAMM has worked closely with Women Hope International, an international organization that also values education and recognizes St. Luke College as a high-level school. Together, they work daily to train students into qualified healthcare professionals.

The shortage of healthcare personnel in Ethiopia affects the system at all levels. The number of specialist doctors is far from sufficient, making professionals such as nurses and midwives essential to ensuring quality care.

Every year, this institution—recognized by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and part of the professional school network of the Oromia Region—enrolls an average of 60 students: men and women ready to assist, listen, and build peace through the work of care.

 

A step forward for women’s health in Tanzania: the MACORESI project

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

In Tanzania, obstetric complications during pregnancy and childbirth are among the leading causes of maternal mortality, especially in rural areas. Obstetric fistula, particularly vesico-vaginal fistula, is a severe and often neglected condition, primarily caused by prolonged and obstructed labour without timely access to emergency obstetric care.

With the goal of improving maternal and reproductive health through the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of obstetric complications—specifically vesico-vaginal fistula—the “MACORESI project – Informed, responsible and safe maternity, as a deterrent for obstetric fistula” was officially launched yesterday in Iringa. Funded by the Italian Cooperation, the project operates in the districts of Kilolo, Mufindi, and Iringa DC. The University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” in partnership leads it with Doctors with Africa CUAMM, the Tosamaganga Regional Referral Hospital, the Association of Obstetric Fistula Surgeons of Tanzania (AOSFT), Iringa Development of Youth Disabled and Children Care, and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

Regional and district authorities, hospital representatives, key stakeholders, and the representative of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) attended the launch event in Tanzania.

«Let today mark the beginning of a journey to reduce preventable obstetric complications, strengthen services, and restore dignity to women who need it most. Together, let us work so that every pregnancy is safe, every childbirth is assisted with quality care, and no woman is left behind», stated Paolo Razzini, AICS Representative in Tanzania.

Commitment on three levels

Through this three-year project, action is taken at three levels: clinical, community, and institutional. The improvement of services—to make them more personalized and women-centered—is coupled with the strengthening of knowledge and skills regarding sexual and reproductive health, as well as the enhancement of cooperation and coordination among the actors involved. Efforts will also focus, thanks to community health workers, on countering socio-cultural barriers and reducing the stigma associated with women’s health conditions.

The aim is therefore to strengthen obstetric care and improve the overall health and well-being of women, so that the right to health is not just an ideal, but also a daily reality.

«Health is every woman’s right», stated the Regional Medical Officer. «Thanks to this project, we will place community health workers at the center of our strategy to prevent, detect, and ultimately eliminate obstetric fistula in Tanzania».

Ethiopia: Life continues in Nguenyyiel

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

The Nguenyyiel refugee camp, in the Gambella region of Ethiopia, is home to over 110,000 South Sudanese refugees. In this stretch of land, where daily life is a constant challenge, the story of Nyadholi Mut Jock shines as a sign of resilience and hope.

Nyadholi is 26 years old and is already a mother of four. When she discovered she was pregnant again, she felt overwhelmed by a mixture of joy and concern. In a context where access to healthcare services is limited and pregnancy-related risks are extremely high, giving birth to a child can be frightening. It was thanks to word of mouth and the support of friends that Nyadholi decided to visit the health post managed by Doctors with Africa CUAMM in Zone D of the camp.

Here, Nyadholi immediately found medical assistance as well as comprehensive support: regular prenatal visits, nutritional guidance, and information sessions to recognize danger signs during pregnancy and understand the importance of vaccinations.

“I came to CUAMM because there are professionals who offer essential services like prenatal care, vaccinations, and medication. They listened to me, treated me with respect, and explained everything,” Nyadholi recalls, emphasizing how the kindness of the staff made the difference, restoring the confidence that is often put to the test in the life of a refugee. “I am very happy with the care I received, from the community health workers to the midwives who assisted me during childbirth. They showed me great humanity,” she added.

Since 2018, Doctors with Africa CUAMM has been present in the Gambella region, providing prevention and treatment services for the refugee population and host communities. It operates in the Nguenyyiel camp, one of the largest in the area, supporting two health posts in Zones A and D. These activities are part of the project “Emergency response to the South Sudanese crisis through an integrated and inclusive approach in health, nutrition, and protection, to strengthen the resilience of South Sudanese refugees and host communities in the Gambella region, Ethiopia,” funded by the Italian Cooperation and implemented together with Plan International Ethiopia and Plan Italia.

In the last 15 months of the project, from its inception until December 2025, there were 53,476 outpatient visits, 1,246 new prenatal visits, and 153 deliveries. Furthermore, 1,136 infants aged 0-11 months completed their vaccinations, 11,391 children under 5 years of age underwent nutritional screening, and 91 cases of severe acute malnutrition and 291 cases of moderate acute malnutrition were referred. Finally, over 2,600 people were reached through awareness sessions.

“When the time came for labor, Nyadholi returned to our clinic. Thanks to the presence of qualified staff, she gave birth to a healthy boy. In that moment, holding her little one in her arms, the weight of fear turned into pure joy and strength,” says Yitages Komtu, community activities coordinator. “These services are vital for the well-being of my son and me. I feel peaceful, mentally and psychologically, knowing that we are receiving the care we need,” Nyadholi continued.

CUAMM’s commitment aims to go beyond simple healthcare: it is a tool that seeks to empower women through knowledge and awareness of their rights, thereby strengthening the entire community. “CUAMM’s activities are extremely important for me and the entire refugee community. They guarantee equitable and quality services right here, where we live every day,” she concluded with pride.

Nyadholi decided to share her story to encourage other mothers in the camp to seek help and not feel alone. Because every mother and every child, even in a refugee camp, deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Bangui Paediatric University Hospital hosts ECHO’s first visit

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

Today in Bangui, at the Pediatric University Hospital – CHUPB, we had the honor of welcoming a high-level ECHO delegation from Brussels for their very first visit, hosted by Medical Director Dr. Gody. The delegation, led by Giuseppe Angelini, Head of Western Africa, had an introductory but highly meaningful meeting: they learned about the hospital’s history, its post-crisis development, and CUAMM’s pivotal role in training health personnel and strengthening operational management. The visit concluded with a tour of the main wards, including the neonatal unit, providing a firsthand look at the tangible impact of our work on the health of the youngest patients.

CUAMM’s intervention at CHUPB began in 2018, supported by the European Union and in partnership with the NGO Action Against Hunger and the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital of the Vatican. The project aimed to strengthen paediatric services in a context marked by structural fragility and recurring crises.

Since then, CUAMM’s work has focused on strengthening hospital governance, training medical and administrative staff, and improving clinical services, ensuring the availability of essential medicines, equipment, hygiene services, and maintenance, to guarantee continuous 24/7 care.

From the start of the intervention until today, CHUPB—the country’s only tertiary-level paediatric referral hospital—has treated over 437,000 children, with more than 118,000 hospital admissions. In the past year alone, data show a recovery rate of 94%, highlighting the quality of care as one of the hospital’s major achievements.

All this takes place in one of the world’s most fragile countries. According to the Human Development Index, the Central African Republic ranks among the lowest globally, alongside countries such as South Sudan and Somalia (Human Development Report, 2023). The index points to significant challenges in life expectancy, average years of schooling, and gross national income per capita, all obstacles to long-term development. Among the most vulnerable sectors are health and education, where the work of CUAMM and international partners remains essential to provide quality services to the most fragile communities.

For this very reason, Cuamm has decided to expand its commitment to ensure access to quality care for women and children also outside the capital, reaching more isolated areas. On the one hand, support for CHUPB is being confirmed, accompanying its transition toward greater administrative and financial autonomy and working to strengthen its most delicate services, such as neonatology and intensive care. On the other hand, efforts are directed toward peripheral first- and second-level facilities, supporting them in the provision of basic care and life-saving services.

From Bangui to the very last mile

While CHUPB represents the country’s first and only tertiary-level paediatric hospital, the national health system also relies on an extensive network of secondary-level hospitals, health centers with varying levels of equipment, and basic dispensaries. Supporting these facilities means ensuring access to essential health services across the territory, strengthening the system’s response capacity, and preventing delays in care.

This is particularly crucial in isolated areas, which face a degree of socio-political instability and are affected by continuous population movements, as people seek responses to their growing basic needs—demonstrating the persistence of humanitarian crisis zones.

In this context, in the Bocaranga-Kuoi district in the western part of the country, we work at Kuoi Hospital and provide support to five affiliated health centers. With only 20 beds, Kuoi Hospital is located in a hard-to-reach area where instability and insecurity compromise service delivery, including healthcare. Thanks to ECHO funding, we work daily to provide free care to pregnant women and children under five, while also offering medical and psychosocial support to women victims of violence, in close collaboration with the local NGO OFAHRD. Activities also include infrastructure rehabilitation, strengthening the emergency referral system, nutritional screenings, and vaccination campaigns.

This effort aims to strengthen peripheral health services while also improving the management capacity of the Bocaranga referral hospital, currently the only fully operational health facility in the district and under heavy pressure due to high demand for care.

Peripheral hospitals and health centers are a fundamental part of a health system that seeks to reach everyone. It is precisely in the most isolated and hard-to-reach areas, however, that healthcare needs are greatest and resources often insufficient. To meet this challenge, in collaboration with the Central African Ministry of Health, CUAMM is implementing a Performance-Based Financing (PBF) intervention, funded by the European Union, involving 59 health facilities across three districts: Bangassou, Ouango-Gambo, and Bossangoa. The goal is to encourage the use of essential health services, improve quality standards, and reduce costs for the population, while also helping to reduce inequalities and ensure quality care for the most marginalized communities.

 

Beyond treatment, the power of the network: strengthening TB diagnosis and prevention in Uganda

Posted on by Arianna Baldi

«I did not feel well at all; I was coughing constantly, often vomiting, and I had no appetite. I even thought I would die, and my greatest fear was leaving my husband and my five children, especially the youngest whom I was still breastfeeding,” says Anna Faith Nayolo, a 29-year-old woman from the Nakapiripirit district in the Karamoja region of Uganda.
“My husband was always by my side, reassuring me. At first, the medications I was given at the peripheral health facilities and those purchased at the pharmacy were not effective. One morning, a fellow villager advised me to go to a health center supported by CUAMM. There, through testing, I was found positive for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. I was immediately taken into care by the center’s team and the CUAMM team to begin treatment at Matany Hospital,” Anna Faith continues. “During the treatment, I was provided with medicine and food, and now that I am back home, I continue to take my medicine every day and go for periodic check-ups until I am completely cured. ‘Ikilakara Nooi,’ I am very grateful for everything, and my hope is that community awareness efforts continue and grow stronger, so that there is more awareness regarding tuberculosis and the existing services supported by CUAMM and the Government»

Anna Faith’s story is the story of many TB patients who have been identified and treated thanks to the dedication of health workers in the field, particularly within the framework of the project “PRO-TB: Strengthening the Organised Tuberculosis Network in Karamoja”. This initiative is supported by the “Fondo di Beneficenza ed opere di carattere sociale e culturale di Intesa Sanpaolo” and implemented by CUAMM together with local health authorities in the districts of Napak and Moroto, in the Karamoja region of Uganda.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading infectious cause of death, ahead of HIV and malaria. According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, in 2024 alone, 10.7 million people fell ill and 1.23 million died from TB. Despite more effective treatments and faster diagnoses, this disease continues to claim victims worldwide, especially in impoverished countries. Today, there is a significant risk that funding cuts will slow down the battle to eliminate it.

Although global incidence and deaths have decreased, progress remains well below the targets set by the WHO. From 2015 to 2024, the reduction in cases was only 12%—far from the 50% reduction planned for 2025—and the reduction in deaths was 29%, compared to the 75% target. However, some areas show encouraging signs: Africa has reduced incidence by 28% and deaths by 46%. The management of drug-resistant tuberculosis remains critical as it is the most complex form to treat, even though the therapeutic success rate has significantly improved according to the WHO.

CUAMM continues its commitment to fighting TB by strengthening and expanding prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up services to reduce incidence and improve case management in the Karamoja region. 11 first- and second-level health facilities are involved through various activities, ranging from healthcare staff training to supporting and consolidating the capacity of local health authorities in planning and managing screening and treatment services, as well as case monitoring. Furthermore, the diagnostic sample transport network to laboratories equipped with GeneXpert technology is being strengthened, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnoses. Particular attention is given to multi-drug resistant forms (MDR-TB) through DOT (Directly Observed Therapy) at health facilities and contact tracing to track and screen the household members of patients affected by resistant forms.

«We have achieved great results as an MDR-TB center. Patients who had discontinued treatment have returned to care, and contact tracing has been carried out,” says Josephine Ikiror, clinical head of the ward at Matany Hospital. “The management of our patients has improved significantly, with a good therapeutic success rate, also thanks to the outpatient model. We have been able to coordinate with peripheral health facilities in different districts to effectively follow patients during and after the treatment cycle to ensure maximum success. The PRO-TB project, therefore, arrived at just the right time».

From April 2025 to the present, 285 TB patients have been under treatment at Matany Hospital, 57 of whom have multi-drug resistant TB. Additionally, 568 health workers have been trained through an on-the-job mentorship program, and 2,708 contacts have been screened. At the level of peripheral health units, 62 monitoring and supervision visits were conducted, while at the community level, 3,440 people were involved in awareness events.

Several challenges remain, including the stigma associated with the disease, as explained by Amoding Jeniffer, a nurse in the TB ward at Matany Hospital: 

«Some patients continue to refuse treatment or do not show up regularly for visits. Even though health education is promoted, the fear of stigma sometimes prevails. Patients who must wear masks often do not want to be identified as carriers of the disease and therefore tend not to use them, which can lead to an increased spread of tuberculosis within communities».

To effectively combat the spread of TB, a multi-level commitment from hospitals to communities remains essential, as does addressing inequalities in access to care and the costs associated with diagnosis and treatment.

Neglecting diseases caring for lives

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

Over a billion people worldwide live with a neglected tropical disease (NTD).

These are 21 different conditions caused by parasites, bacteria, viruses, or fungi, primarily affecting the most vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries in tropical and subtropical regions.

January 30 marks World NTD Day, established by the World Health Organization to draw attention to a global health emergency that remains largely overlooked. In Karamoja, in northeastern Uganda, these diseases are not just statistics—they are part of daily life.

“Experiencing this day here gives it an even stronger meaning,” says Sara Biagioni, an Infectious Diseases resident at Matany Hospital. “Over these months, I’ve seen just how immense the problem is. Even for someone like me, who has already dealt with these conditions in Italy, their prevalence here is evident every day. The lack of attention and investment in diseases that predominantly affect vulnerable populations and regions marked by poverty and structural challenges is also striking.”

In a rural area where livestock farming is one of the main activities and the poverty rate is among the highest in the country, the social determinants of health are particularly apparent.

“You can fully understand,” she continues, “the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. It becomes clear how essential a One Health approach is to address the problem.”

Sometimes, prevention starts with actions that elsewhere we take for granted.

“I have often thought, with no small amount of frustration, that even before distributing medicines, simple measures could be enough for effective prevention—like wearing shoes or other adequate footwear.”

In this area, many people walk barefoot: parasitic infections transmitted through contact with the soil can cause anemia and malnutrition, compromising children’s development and the health of pregnant women. Diseases such as tungiasis and podoconiosis—common in some areas of Karamoja—can progress to chronic lesions, permanent disabilities, and severe mobility issues, compounded by the social stigma faced by those affected.

During the days when a Ugandan organization focused on patient care worked in Matany, Sara met people waiting in line for long-awaited consultations.

“With the team, we talked about the social stigma resulting from these conditions and how it complicates people’s lives. Among the patients present, I found genuine and surprised gratitude: in discovering that someone could care for their problem, but also in seeing the improvements achieved through simple measures.”

Among the diseases she has encountered most frequently in recent months is visceral leishmaniasis, an endemic condition in this area that can be fatal if untreated. Its management, however, is complex in Matany: diagnosis is not always immediate, and treatments require prolonged hospitalization and careful monitoring.

“These challenges made me realize how important it is to have constant collaboration with local colleagues, like Julius, a key reference for this condition at the hospital, or Sister Harriet, the head nurse, who on Sundays, after mass, comes to the hospital to ensure that therapy continues even on weekends. It’s a continuous exchange where knowledge is shared, but you learn something every day.”

Every case has a face.

“I remember every face, every name,” she says. Like Alice, who wanted to go home after her first injections because she felt better and stayed only after a heated discussion, later leaving us with one of the most ironic and grateful smiles. Or Anjelina, admitted in serious condition and discharged after weeks of treatment: today, she returns to the hospital only to say hello and give thanks—her last visit she chose to do in Italian.

Neglected tropical diseases are called so because they have long remained at the margins of the global agenda. But in Matany, they have names, stories, relationships. They remind us that the right to healthcare also depends on choices—like looking all the way to the last mile, working side by side with local communities, standing alongside the most vulnerable, and bringing commitment, change, and dignity even to those suffering from forgotten diseases.

Empowering Communities: Linking Agriculture and Nutrition in Tanzania

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

In Dodoma, Tanzania, we recently came together with partners and authorities for the closing event of the project “Diverse Food System: Improving Nutrition by Supporting Diversified and Sustainable Food Systems,” funded by the Italian Cooperation and implemented by Doctors with Africa CUAMM in partnership with LVIA, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), and MVIWATA.

The event gathered around 120 participants, including a wide range of stakeholders, district and regional officials, hospital staff, representatives of the Ministry of Health, and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), under the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Through this project, CUAMM expanded access to quality services for the management of severe acute malnutrition, strengthened the clinical skills of healthcare personnel, and provided substantial support to local authorities in addressing malnutrition at both community and district levels. At the same time, in collaboration with LVIA, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), and MVIWATA, the project contributed over three years to improved nutrition outcomes—particularly for children under five, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers—while promoting sustainable agricultural practices that enhance community resilience and improve access to healthy, quality food.

“We are very grateful to CUAMM for supporting the government’s efforts to improve nutrition services, especially the treatment of severe malnutrition in children under five. Their partnership ensured better access to medicines and equipment while strengthening our healthcare environment. We are truly thankful for their contribution.” said Maria Haule – District Nutrition Officer from Kongwa DC. 

The event also provided an opportunity to highlight the project’s impact on approximately 110,000 people across the districts of Kongwa, Bahi, and Chamwino. As a result of the initiative, communities can now rely on empowered farmers and enhanced know-how in innovative and sustainable agricultural approaches that are essential to long-term food security.

This project represents a solid foundation for future action and regional development, fully aligned with and supportive of Tanzania’s national strategies for food security and nutritional improvement.