Lisbon, Portugal | Xinhua | Portugal will accelerate the immunization campaign against COVID-19 to curb the rapid spread of the Delta variant, vice-admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Portuguese vaccination coordinator, said Saturday. The goal is to vaccinate “about 850,000 people a week” using the “maximum stocks of vaccine” available, …
Read More »Experts dispel allegations of deaths caused by COVID-19 vaccine
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health experts have dismissed allegations that the COVID-19 vaccine is responsible for the death of people succumbing to the virus shortly after taking the jab. Dr. Alfred Driwale, the Assistant Commissioner & Program Manager of Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization-UNEPI, says that while …
Read More »‘No sign of hope after Uganda’s worst COVID month of June’
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | June has so far been the worst month for Uganda in as far as the coronavirus pandemic concerned. It has been characterized by surging cases, a new total lockdown, skyrocketing deaths, oxygen shortages, lack of beds for critical patients as well as an upsurge in …
Read More »Twaweza: COVID-19 vaccine confidence in Kampala growing
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kampala resident’s willingness to have a Coronavirus vaccine is increasing, according to a new report on attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines. A COVID-19 vaccine is the key to beating the virus that has so far killed close to two thousand Ugandans. A survey conducted …
Read More »Concern as COVID-19 bodies exhumed for reburial in Budaka
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Budaka District COVID-19 Taskforce has raised a red flag over reports that relatives of COVID-19 victims are exhuming their bodies at night to accord them “befitting burials”. Local leaders in Budaka town council and Kachomo Sub County claim that some residents exhume the bodies …
Read More »IN THE INDEPENDENT: Mobile money cash for poor
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | These are the top stories in this week’s THE INDEPENDENT. COVER STORY Mobile money cash for COVID-19 poor: Why Nabbanja is right and others wrong THE LAST WORD Celebrating one’s misfortune: How public anger against Uganda government’s response to COVID is driven more by prejudice …
Read More »MPs oppose COVID-19 relief for cities, municipalities only
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A section of Members of Parliament from rural areas have called for equitable distribution of COVID-19 relief cash across the country. The government has allocated 53 billion Shillings as relief support to vulnerable people in municipalities and cities which are hit hardest by the …
Read More »Prime Minister Nabbanja creates excitement at Kalerwe market
Orders and laughter mark Nabbanja’s first public appearance as Prime Minister Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The new Prime Minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja has made her first public appearance at Kalerwe market where she officiated at the distribution of mosquito nets to vendors who sleep in the markets. …
Read More »OLYMPICS: Delta variant identified in Ugandan case
Tokyo, Japan | XINHUA | The Ugandan Olympic team member who tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Japan has been confirmed to have infected with the Delta variant, Japan’s Olympic Minister Marukawa Tamayo said here on Friday. The Ugandan man in his 50s, reportedly a coach in the nine-member …
Read More »India sends out alert over Delta Plus variant of COVID-19
New Delhi, India | XINHUA | India’s health ministry on Tuesday alerted the states of Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh on a new variant of COVID-19 called Delta Plus. The ministry described Delta Plus as a Variant of Concern (VOC). “Based on the recent findings of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia …
Read More »