Uganda

 Dr Richard Kwizera, Research Scientist, Department of research, Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala.. Email: On request

 Felix Bongomin, Internal Medicine Resident, Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala. Email: On request

 View the Fungal burden of disease in Uganda: Published: Parkes-Ratanshi et al 2015

 How you have helped GAFFI so far? 
Richard Kwizera: I provided GAFFI with information on Uganda’s diagnostic capabilities. I have been involved in the estimation and re-estimation of the burden of fungal diseases in Uganda and Africa. I continue to advocate for fungal point of care testing especially for Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, disseminated histoplasmosis and cryptococcal meningitis in Uganda.. 
Felix Bongomin: With colleagues in GAFFI, we have recently updated the global estimates of the burden of fungal diseases and this has informed several stakeholders, including the WHO, that fungal diseases are a public health threat. View paper in Journal of Fungi 2017
In April 2018, I co-organised GAFFI’s 3rd Global Fungal Infection Forum on essential diagnostics for serious fungal infections and Advanced HIV Disease. Several of these diagnostic tests were included on the WHO’s first edition of the Model List of Essential In Vitro Diagnostics (EDL). View press release

 Personal comment on the major needs in Colombia which GAFFI should be addressing: 
Richard Kwizera:
- Increase awareness on the spectrum of fungal diseases so as to improve on the index of clinical suspicion among health care workers.
- Train more key clinicians and laboratory personnel to make a definite diagnosis.
- Enhance medical mycology training at postgraduate level by interesting students in mycology projects and introducing an MSc in Medical Mycology.
- Increase access to fungal diagnostics for pathogens included on the WHO fungal pathogen priority list.
- Increase access to essential antifungal drugs.
- Describe the local disease burden for the neglected fungal diseases that affect the quality of life of patients.
- Increase access to antifungal susceptibility testing.
Felix Bongomin: 
- Creating awareness among health-workers of the very wide spectrum of fungal diseases, to improve diagnosis, to appreciate the importance of screening in select populations and on the timely initiation of an appropriate treatment.
- Dialogue with stakeholders, especially the Ministry of Health, on priority needs in fungal diagnostics, essential antifungal agents and national surveillance.
- We would like to enhance teaching and learning of medical mycology both at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
- Developing a stand-alone post-graduate training curriculum in Medical Mycology in at least one university in Uganda.
- Fostering empirical and epidemiological research in all aspects of fungal diseases to better understand the true burden of fungal disease in Uganda.
- Establishment of an active medical mycology society in the country.

 Links to key fungal/global health institutions in Uganda: Infectious Diseases Institute; CDC Global Health – Uganda;WHO – Uganda;
Fungal Interest Group Uganda