Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kitgum General Hospital has started distributing anti-retroviral drugs to HIV positive members under the community outreach program. The Senior Hospital Administrator Bezzy Omoya says this is to enable people living with HIV to conveniently access their medication during the lockdown. Under the program, antiretroviral …
Read More »WHO warns malaria deaths could double during virus pandemic
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The new coronavirus pandemic could severely disrupt access to anti-malaria nets and drugs in sub-Saharan Africa, the World Health Organization said Thursday, warning that malaria deaths risked doubling if efforts are not urgently scaled up. The UN health agency called on countries in sub-Saharan Africa — …
Read More »‘Serious side effects’ from Trump-backed virus drugs: EU agency
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The European Medicines Agency on Thursday added its voice to growing concern about an anti-malarial drug widely touted as a potential cure for the COVID-19 disease, warning about fatal side effects. Beneficial effects of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which count US President Donald Trump as a major backer, have “not …
Read More »China to give WHO $30 million more after US freezes funds
Beijing, China | AFP | China announced Thursday it will give another $30 million to the World Health Organization to help in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, days after Washington said it would freeze funding. The US, which is the WHO’s biggest contributor, accused the organisation last week of …
Read More »Planned indoor residual spraying cancelled despite malaria surge
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The planned Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) initially scheduled to take place in May in high malarial districts has been cancelled. The World Health Organisation recommends IRS as a prevention mechanism should be done every after two years for efficacy. The intervention was last done …
Read More »COVID-19: Health officials intercept body from Dubai
Uganda COVID-19 stats ✳ 14,761 tested ✳ 61 confirmed cases ✳ 38 recoveries ✳ 23 active cases ✳ 0 deaths Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health (MOH) surveillance team on Tuesday intercepted an A-Plus van heading to Kayunga with a body flown in from Qatar. Ministry …
Read More »COVID-19 National Taskforce receives Shs50m from Xsabo group
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Xsabo Group through its corporate social responsibility arm, Xsabo Foundation has contributed Shs50million towards the fight against the spread of coronavirus pandemic in Uganda. The contribution was handed over to Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda who also doubles as the Chairman of the National …
Read More »Uganda can no longer afford to delegate healthcare funding to Development Partners
According to World Bank data, in 2017, Uganda’s per capita healthcare spending was at $38.4, which is little less than a half of the $78.3 average per capita healthcare spending of non-high income Sub-Saharan African countries COMMENT | Dr Bruce Tumwine Rwabasonga | It has been 108 days and two …
Read More »People with COVID-19 may be infectious days before symptoms: study
Paris, France | AFP | People infected with the new coronavirus may start spreading the virus several days before they have any noticeable symptoms, according to a new modelling study published Wednesday. The study comes as nations have broadened restrictions aimed at curbing the epidemic, amid concerns over patients who may …
Read More »What the US can learn from Uganda’s COVID-19 experience on crafting a pandemic response
Uganda, as a result of previous experiences in combating epidemics like Ebola and HIV, has gained a global reputation as a leader in public health COMMENT | Dr Bruce Tumwine Rwabasonga | By now, everyone across the world has been impacted in one way or another by COVID-19. As expected, a …
Read More »