Mulungushi University Biomedical Sciences Students Association

🎓 Complete Your BSc Biomedical Sciences in 2 Years (Year 3 Entry)!

Mulungushi University – School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Are you a Diploma in Biomedical Science holder?
Upgrade to a full degree on your own terms with Open & Distance Learning (ODL).

✅ Blended learning – Study online + attend residential sessions on campus
✅ Join directly in Year 3 – Save time & money
✅ Hands-on practicals & labs during on-campus sessions
✅ Flexible schedules – Fit studies around work and family
✅ Accredited degree – Excellent career prospects

📅 Intake starts: First week of October 2026
🌐 Apply now: www.mu.ac.zm

📲 Have questions?

WhatsApp: 0968165360
Calls: 0776410499

HEALTH PULSE
MUBIOMEDSSA RADIO PROGRAM CONTINUES
Today we continue on the show with a topic: "Cancer Awareness - A focus on Cervical and Breast cancer"

The session hosted by Lwiito Siangoma will start airing at 14:05hrs to 15:15hrs on Zambezi FM 94.1.

Tune in to learn how to spot it, stop it and live with it as our guest speakers for today break it down for us.

Click on the link below at 14:00hrs.
- https://stream-africa.com/radio/zambezi-fm

African Society for Laboratory Medicine Biomedical Society of Zambia - BMSZ Biomedical Students Association of Zambia - BMSAZ SOMHS TV Lwiito DS Siangoma Chilambe Clement Chintu Choolwe Simweene Situmbeko Liweleya Mulungushi University Medical Students Association - Mumedsa Mulungushi University Pharmacy Students Association-MUPHARMSA Talkmore Maruta

Attention all 2nd years 📢

MUBIOMEDSSA, MUPHARMSA, and MUMEDSA, through the Office of the Minister of Education and Information, have organized a tutorial session to help you prepare for the upcoming oral tests.

📍 Venue: New Lecture Theater (NLT)

⏰ Time:
• 14:00 – 15:30 hrs → Medical students
• 15:30 – 17:00 hrs → Pharmacy and Biomedical students

Date: 25th May 2026.

The session will cover:
✔️ How to answer confidently
✔️ What examiners look for
✔️ Simple strategies to help you stand out

Come ready to learn, ask questions, and build confidence ahead of your assessments.

Don’t miss out! 🌟💥

📸 PHOTO FOCUS – COMMUNITY OUTREACH

On 9th May 2026, the Mulungushi University Biomedical Sciences Students Association continued its community outreach through Health Pulse on Zambezi FM 94.1 with their 6th session on "Diabetes – Understanding your numbers"

The session was hosted by Lwiito Siangoma, joined by speakers Dr. Lukundo Siame and Mr. Pius Kumwenda.

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot properly use sugar for energy because of a problem with insulin, the hormone that helps sugar enter your cells. Sugar builds up in the blood instead.

Types of Diabetes:

📌 Type 1: Body attacks its own insulin-producing cells. Usually starts in childhood. Needs insulin injections.
📌 Type 2: Body becomes resistant to insulin. Linked to lifestyle and genetics. More common in Zambia.
📌 Gestational: Happens during pregnancy. Usually resolves after birth but increases risk of Type 2 later.

Causes & Risk Factors:
🔹 Family history (genetics)
🔹 Being overweight or obese
🔹 Physical inactivity
🔹 Poor diet (too much sugar and processed food)
🔹 High blood pressure
🔹 Age (risk increases after 45)

Early Signs:
⚠️ Excessive thirst
⚠️ Frequent urination (especially at night)
⚠️ Unexplained weight loss
⚠️ Blurred vision
⚠️ Slow-healing wounds
⚠️ Extreme tiredness

Hyperglycemia vs. Hypoglycemia:
📈 Hyperglycemia (High Sugar): Thirst, frequent urination, tiredness. Damages body slowly over years.
📉 Hypoglycemia (Low Sugar): Shaky, sweaty, confused, dizzy. Can kill within minutes. Give sugar immediately – juice, soda, glucose.

Ketone Bodies & DKA:
🔥 When the body cannot use sugar, it starts burning fat instead, producing ketones. High ketones cause Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) – nausea, vomiting, fruity breath, confusion. This is an emergency. Go to the clinic immediately.

Testing – How the lab helps:
🔬 Blood Glucose Test (Finger Prick): Tells your sugar level right now.
🔬 Fasting Blood Sugar: After 8 hours of no food. Normal is below 5.6 mmol/L.
🔬 HbA1c: Shows your average sugar over 3 months. No fasting needed.

Treatment & Management:
💊 Lifestyle: Healthy diet, exercise, weight management
💊 Oral medication: Tablets to help the body use insulin better
💊 Insulin injections: For Type 1 and some advanced Type 2
💊 Monitoring: Regular blood sugar checks

Prevention:
✅ Eat more vegetables and less sugar
✅ Move your body – even walking helps
✅ Maintain a healthy weight
✅ Get tested regularly if you have risk factors

Myths we addressed:
❌ "Eating sugar causes diabetes" – Not directly. But poor diet increases risk.
❌ "Diabetes is a death sentence" – False. With proper management, people live long, healthy lives.
❌ "Diabetes is only for fat people" – False. Even slim people can get it. Genetics play a big role.
❌ "Diabetes is for the rich" – False. It depends on genetics and lifestyle, not money.
❌ "Insulin is a punishment" – False. It is life-saving medicine.
❌ "Traditional herbs can cure diabetes" – False. They may help symptoms but do not cure

What you can do:
✅ Know your numbers – get tested, especially if you have family history, are overweight, or have high blood pressure
✅ Know the emergencies – shaky and sweaty? Low sugar. Take sugar immediately. Nausea, vomiting, fruity breath? High sugar with ketones. Go to the clinic now.
✅ Prevent where you can – eat better, move more, maintain healthy weight
✅ If diagnosed, manage it – take your medication, check your sugar, protect your feet, see your doctor regularly

Diabetes is not a curse. It is a medical condition. With proper care, you can live a full, healthy life.

Thanks to our speakers and to Zambezi FM for the platform.

📸 PHOTO FOCUS – COMMUNITY OUTREACH

On 25th April 2026, the Mulungushi University Biomedical Sciences Students Association continued its community outreach through Health Pulse on Zambezi FM 94.1 with the main focus on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) – The Silent Pandemic

The show hosted by Lwiito Siangoma, joined by speakers Mr. M. Chona and Mr. L. Miyoba

What is AMR?
Antimicrobial Resistance happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites stop responding to the medicines that used to kill them. The germs learn to fight back.

What causes it?
📌 Overuse of antibiotics (taking them for colds and flu – which are viral)
📌 Not finishing prescriptions (stopping when you feel better)
📌 Buying antibiotics without a prescription
📌 Use of antibiotics in animals (meat, milk, eggs)

How does resistance happen?
When bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic, most die. But a few with natural defenses survive and multiply. Over time, the antibiotic stops working.

Signs of AMR infection:
📌 Infection that does not get better with treatment
📌 Prolonged illness
📌 Need for stronger, more toxic drugs
📌 Spread of resistant germs to family members

Why should you care?
A simple cut, a routine surgery, or a child's pneumonia could become untreatable. AMR already kills more people than HIV and malaria in some parts of the world.

Testing – How the lab helps:
Culture and Sensitivity (C&S) is the gold standard test.
1. Sample collection: Urine, blood, wound swab
2. Culture: Bacteria are grown on a plate (24-48 hours)
3. Identification: Scientist identifies the bacteria by color, smell, and chemical tests
4. Sensitivity: Different antibiotics are tested against the bacteria
5. Result: The doctor knows exactly which antibiotic will work

Prevention:
📌 Use antibiotics only when prescribed
📌 Finish the full course – even when you feel better
📌 Never share or buy antibiotics without a prescription
📌 Wash your hands – prevention is key
📌 Handle food safely

Myths we busted:
❌ "Antibiotics work for colds and flu" – False. Colds and flu are viral.
❌ "Stopping antibiotics when you feel better is fine" – False. The strongest bacteria may still be alive.
❌ "Stronger antibiotics are always better" – False. They kill good bacteria and speed up resistance.
❌ "Resistance happens to my body" – False. The bacteria become resistant, and you can pass them to others.
❌ "AMR is a problem only for rich countries" – False. Zambia is just as vulnerable.

What you can do:
✅ Use antibiotics responsibly – only when prescribed
✅ Finish your full course
✅ Never share or buy antibiotics without a prescription
✅ Prevent infections – wash hands, vaccinate, handle food safely
✅ Support the lab – when your doctor requests a culture, agree

Thanks to our speakers and to Zambezi FM for the platform.

📸 PHOTO FOCUS – COMMUNITY OUTREACH

On 12th April 2026, the Mulungushi University Biomedical Sciences Students Association continued its community outreach through Health Pulse on Zambezi FM 94.1 with the discussion centered on "HIV Awareness and Prevention"

The show was Hosted by Lwiito Siangoma, joined by Mr. Halyoonda and Mr. Eustas as speakers.

Together they discussed...
What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks the immune system, specifically CD4 cells. If untreated, it leads to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) the late stage where the body can no longer fight infections.

How does it spread?
📌 Unprotected s*x
📌 Infected blood (needles, transfusions)
📌 Mother to child (pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding)
📌 Accidents

What does NOT spread it?
Hugging, sharing food, toilets, or mosquito bites.

Early signs:
Fever, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, rash. Many people have no symptoms for years.

Testing:
1. Pre-screening: Oral quick test (mouth swab) which gives you results in minutes. Convenient but not final.
2. Screening: Blood determine strips that are more accurate. If positive, move to confirmatory.
3. Confirmatory: We use Bioline as final confirmation. Rules out false positives.

Testing is free, confidential, and available at most clinics.
The listed tests are the standard ones in our hospital.

Treatment:
ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) is not a cure, but it suppresses the virus to undetectable levels.

Prevention:
📌 abstinence
📌Condoms (male and female)
📌 PrEP (daily pill for high-risk individuals)
📌 PEP (post-exposure treatment within 72 hours)
📌 Testing regularly
📌 Avoiding needle sharing

Myths we busted:
❌ "HIV is a death sentence" – False. With ART, people live long, healthy lives.
❌ "Traditional herbs can cure HIV" – False.
❌ "Sleeping with a virgin cures HIV" – False. This is harmful and dangerous.
❌ "You can get HIV from hugging" – False.

What you can do:
✅ Know your status by getting tested
✅ If positive, start ART immediately
✅ If negative, stay negative abstain/use condoms, consider PrEP
✅ Talk openly as silence and stigma spread the virus

Thanks to our speakers and to Zambezi FM for the platform.

Mulungushi University Biomedical Sciences Students Association Wishes you A Happy Labour Day.

We are saluting the dedication of the entire Labour force in all our laboratory sectors.



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Happy Labour Day 🔥

Happy Labor Day Mwebamu Lab