Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As Ugandans wait for President Yoweri Museveni to fully reopen the country next month, experts are saying, future public health crises should be managed using a human rights approach. Speaking at the 9th Virtual Townhall Meeting on Dec.06, Nicholas Opiyo, a human rights …
Read More »Prolonged closure of Entebbe Hospital irks residents
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The prolonged closure of Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital has irked residents. The hospital closed the outpatient, dental, optical, maternal and child care departments in March last year to focus on the management of COVID-19 patients. Before its closure, the hospital served more than a …
Read More »Thousands of people protest in Brussels against new coronavirus restrictions
Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | Thousands of demonstrators marched in the streets of Brussels on Sunday to protest against the government’s latest strict measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Twenty people were reported to have been arrested, according to the police, and four demonstrators and two police officers …
Read More »J&J Covid-19 vaccines reserved for hard to reach areas
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health will distribute Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines to hard to reach areas, according to Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng. She says that the single-shot jab will be preserved for residents of Karamoja, as well as the islands of Kalangala and …
Read More »Gulu University showcases Covilyce 1 at the East Africa trade expo
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Gulu University officials exhibited Covilyce 1, an indigenous herbal medicine used in the treatment of COVID-19, at the ongoing East Africa Trade Expo in Tanzania. Covilyce 1 herbal medicine was created by scientists at the Faculty of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Studies (Pharm-Biotech), backed by over …
Read More »Emergence of Omicron vindicates China’s approach on COVID-19 prevention: Bloomberg
Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | The emergence of Omicron has somehow vindicated what China has been doing to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, a Bloomberg report said recently. In an article published on Wednesday, Bloomberg said as countries across the world scrambled this week to impose border and travel curbs …
Read More »Gov’t heightens surveillance in light of new Covid variant
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government has intensified surveillance measures on most of the points of entry to curb the spread of Omicron, a new COVID-19 variant, the Minister of Health has said. While presenting a statement on the Floor of Parliament on 02 December 2021, the Minister of …
Read More »Zimbabwe to start administering booster doses as omicron variant sets in
Harare, Zimbabwe | Xinhua | Zimbabwe will start administering COVID-19 booster shots to frontline workers, people with chronic diseases, and the elderly with immediate effect, a senior Ministry of Health and Child Care official said on Friday. The announcement came as the country on Thursday confirmed its first case of the …
Read More »Zimbabwe confirms presence of omicron variant in country
Harare, Zimbabwe | Xinhua | Zimbabwean Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga on Thursday confirmed the presence of the omicron variant in the country. He urged the nation to step up vigilance and adherence to COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures to curb a fourth …
Read More »Vaccines save lives even if there’s a reduction in efficacy: WHO expert
Genea, Switzerland | Xinhua | Despite the current uncertainty over the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, people should still get vaccinated because it will save lives, a World Health Organization (WHO) expert said on Wednesday. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead for the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, said at a WHO press briefing …
Read More »