Jolly Atwine Twongyeirwe

The Permanent Secretary , Dr. @DianaAtwine, has called for a shift to a “Test and Treat” approach for Viral Hepatitis, similar to Uganda’s successful HIV treatment model. 🇺🇬 Speaking at the Hepatitis Symposium at the ongoing #JASH2026, she stressed the need to: ✅ Expand access to hepatitis medicines at lower-level health facilities 
💉 Strengthen vaccination coverage 
🤱🏾 Prioritise prevention of mother-to-child transmission The goal is timely treatment, reduced transmission and prevention of life-threatening complications like Liver cirrhosis and Liver Cancer. #MOHatWork | #JASH2026

ATWINE CALLS FOR UNIFIED ACTION AGAINST COMMUNICABLE AND NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, has called for coordinated action across Government, academia, the private sector and communities to strengthen disease prevention, improve healthcare delivery and protect Uganda’s population. Speaking at the 20th Joint Annual Scientific Health Conference and 2nd Annual Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Conference 2026 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Dr Atwine said the conference provides an opportunity to use scientific research and evidence to shape policies and improve health services. She warned that climate change could contribute to the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, while Uganda’s ageing population is likely to increase the burden of non-communicable diseases. She called for stronger systems to prevent, detect and manage these conditions and reduce avoidable deaths. Dr Atwine emphasised that prevention must begin at household and community level. She urged stakeholders to prioritise proven interventions, including childhood immunisation, the hepatitis B birth dose, HIV prevention, malaria control, screening and early detection of diseases such as cancer, hypertension and diabetes. She also raised concern about growing resistance to medicines used to treat malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, calling for more investment in research and innovation to identify effective treatments and strengthen disease management. The Permanent Secretary urged Government institutions to direct more resources towards primary healthcare and community-level interventions, while intensifying public education on healthy lifestyles, nutrition, physical activity and routine medical check-ups. She also called for workplace wellness programmes and policies that promote healthier diets, reduce excessive salt intake and support early screening for conditions such as sickle cell disease. Dr Atwine stressed that tackling the country’s health challenges requires all sectors to align their plans and investments with national priorities. She identified research as a critical tool for determining which interventions deliver the greatest health benefits and economic returns. She concluded that a healthy population is essential to productivity and Uganda’s Tenfold Growth ambition, urging participants to turn the conference’s scientific findings into practical policies, funded interventions and everyday action that improves the health and well-being of Ugandans. @DianaAtwine #OpenGovUg

🇺🇬Today’s office: Witnessed a major leap in delivering health care to hard-to-reach communities, along side a colleague of mine @JollyAtwine !🚁 Hon. @DrAyumeCharles officiated at the launch of medical drone deliveries on the Butabika–Kalangala route, carrying medical supplies to the islands and collecting laboratory samples for the return journey. Congratulations to the team behind this amazing work!👏🏽 @MinofHealthUG

🇺🇬Today’s office: Witnessed a major leap in delivering health care to hard-to-reach communities, along side a colleague of mine @JollyAtwine !🚁 Hon. @DrAyumeCharles officiated at the launch of medical drone deliveries on the Butabika–Kalangala route, carrying medical supplies to the islands and collecting laboratory samples for the return journey. Congratulations to the team behind this amazing work!👏🏽 @MinofHealthUG

🚁 Bringing healthcare closer to island communities! Hon. Dr. Charles Ayume, the Minister of State for Health [Primary Health Care]. launched a medical logistics drone flight from Butabika to Koome, onward to Kalangala Town Council and back to Butabika. The drone carried essential medical supplies to island health facilities and returned with laboratory samples for testing; a move intended to address transport challenges faced by hard-to-reach communities and supporting timely diagnosis and care. “Evidence from these flights will inform decisions on how drone transport can be integrated into the existing Integrated National Sample Transport Network, strengthening timely and reliable sample transportation from hard-to-reach communities,”—@DrAyumeCharles . #MOHatWork

✊🏽 MILESTONE: The Minister of State for Health [Primary Health Care], Hon. @DrAyumeCharles, is officiating at the launch of medical logistics DRONES to deliver essential medical supplies to hard-to-reach communities. This afternoon, a drone completed a flight to the Kalangala islands carrying 100 HIV test kits, 400 specimen collection tubes and 50 dried blood spot [DBS] collection kits! @MinofHealthUG

Health is Wealth! #MOHatWork

Are we on track to achieve the 2030 targets for ending malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS and hepatitis? We call for evidence-informed policies and impactful interventions to accelerate progress. Join the conversation at the 20th #JASH2026 & 2nd #NACNCDC2026 Conference! 📅 28–30 October 2026 📍 Speke Resort Munyonyo 🔗 Register now: conference.health.go.ug/ #UnifiedAction #JASH2026