World Bank urges a more gender inclusive recovery at latest economic update Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Uganda’s growth is expected to be between 3.5% and 4.0% in Fiscal Year (FY) 22 and about 5.5% in FY23; both projections are about one percentage lower than the June 2021 forecast, …
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 »Uganda’s teenage pregnancies five times higher than Covid-19 positive cases
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least 644,955 teenage pregnancies were recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda, according to the United Nations Population Fund-UNFPA. Figures from the agency show that since March 2020 when COVID-19 hit the world, an estimated 354,736 teenage pregnancies were reported following the closure of …
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 »Law on mandatory vaccination, wearing of masks to be tabled before Parliament
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng notified Parliament that she will be tabling a proposed law on public health next week, to provide for mandatory vaccination, wearing of masks and others. Aceng made the statement on Thursday afternoon while responding to different queries …
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 »Uganda strives to consolidate gains in HIV/AIDS fight amid COVID-19
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda is striving to consolidate the gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS despite the impact of COVID-19, a senior health official said on Wednesday. “COVID-19 did not spare the National HIV and AIDS Response. However, there was a 41 percent decline in HIV testing and …
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 …
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