Geneva, Switzerland | XINHUA | While children in every country have struggled with the impact of COVID-19 on their education, the refugee children have been particularly disadvantaged, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said in a new report issued on Thursday. UN figures showed that 1.6 billion learners across the …
Read More »WHO roots for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccine in Africa
Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that donors and industry should allocate sufficient resources to ensure that African countries have access to a safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccine. Richard Mihigo, Program Area Manager of Immunization and Vaccine Development of WHO, said the needs …
Read More »UN chief terms COVID-19 as game-changer for int’l peace, security
United Nations | XINHUA | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders on Wednesday that the COVID-19 pandemic has become a game-changer for international peace and security. The world has “entered a volatile and unstable new phase” in terms of the impact of COVID-19 on peace and security, the …
Read More »Constant surges of coronavirus infections expected without a vaccine
Brussels, Belgium | XINHUA | The head of the European health advisory body warned on Wednesday that constant surges and decreases of COVID-19 cases will continue until a vaccine is available. Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, said that the increase in cases in …
Read More »UVRI accredited among COVID-19 reference laboratories in Africa
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) has been accredited by the World Health Organization-WHO as one of the COVID-19 reference laboratories in Africa. The laboratory which is spearheading COVID-19 testing in the country is one of eight laboratories that were accredited as reference laboratories …
Read More »MP Luttamaguzi Semakula, 22 others granted bail
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nakaseke South Member of Parliament Luttamaguzi Ssemakula and 22 other suspects who are accused of disregarding COVID-19 guidelines have been granted bail. Luttamaguzi, Violet Nakalema, an aspirant for the Nakaseke Woman Parliamentary Seat and 21 others were remanded to Kitalya and Kasangati prisons by …
Read More »Ten COVID patients left in communities as Arua hospital runs out of space
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is anxiety among health and local officials in Arua district, following reports that the COVID-19 treatment facility has run out of space. Newly tested positive cases have now been left in their communities, and not yet linked to care. This is according to a …
Read More »Steroid hydrocortisone increases recovery rates in severe COVID-19 patients
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Patients with severe forms of COVID-19 have higher chances of surviving if given fixed doses of hydrocortisone. This is according to findings of a new study carried out by the Imperial College of London. The findings which were released today and published in the journal …
Read More »Africa launches 14 mln USD program to shore up coffee sector amid COVID-19
Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | The Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) said on Wednesday it has jointly launched a 14.3 million U.S. dollar intervention program to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on the continent’s coffee sector. IACO said it has teamed up with the International Coffee Organization (ICO) and the Center …
Read More »Stronger China-EU ties needed to uphold multilateralism in post-coronavirus world
Belgrade, Serbia | XINHUA | The just-concluded European tour of China’s top diplomat further demonstrated a need for stronger ties between the two sides to uphold multilateralism, stick to openness and scale up cooperation in the post-coronavirus world. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to Italy, the …
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