Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has said that it does not know the cost of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine despite ordering for two million doses. According to the ministry of health officials, the government has only budgeted for the vaccination process to cost an estimated 1.4 …
Read More »Uganda, Africa awaits CoviShield vaccine from India
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT, URN & XINHUA | When the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani on Sunday approved the Oxford coronavirus vaccine and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for “restricted use”, the clapping and cheering that followed could be heard in nearly all the capital cities of Africa, including …
Read More »99% using new HIV drug without knowing what they are taking
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | HIV activists are blaming government for not giving people living with HIV information regarding the new Anti-Retroviral Therapies (ARVs) yet the country has adopted a human rights approach as a key tool in their HIV response as recommended by the World Health Organisation. In a …
Read More »Registering essential medicines
Uganda lags behind Kenya as experts advise East African countries to prioritise their essential medicines for drug registration | THE INDEPENDENT | Governments should ensure that the regulatory agencies responsible for registering medicines prioritise and restrict the registration of medicines to only those that are on the lists of essential …
Read More »WHO hails universal health coverage milestones in Africa amid pandemic
Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Many African countries have demonstrated commitment to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) amid disruptions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Saturday during the Universal Health Coverage Day. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said that universal health coverage …
Read More »UN chief warns against vaccine nationalism, appeals funding for Africa
United Nations | Xinhua | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned against “vaccine nationalism,” appealing for greater finance to secure inoculations for Africa. “It’s true we are seeing vaccination nationalism moving at full speed,” Guterres said during a virtual meeting with the African Union. The UN chief made this …
Read More »WHO launches new alliance to combat false information on COVID-19
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new alliance, the Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA), to coordinate actions and pool resources in combating misinformation around COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies in Africa. Digital platforms have been flooded with COVID-19-related information since the pandemic …
Read More »WHO urges greater COVID-19 vigilance in Africa as holidays near
Large group gatherings and mobility have been identified as risk factors for increasing the spread of COVID-19 | THE INDEPENDENT | With the end of year approaching and many African families planning get-togethers, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to be on high alert for a possible surge …
Read More »WHO warns against remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment
London, UK | Xinhua | The antiviral drug remdesivir should not be used to treat COVID-19 patients no matter how ill they are as there is no evidence it works, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. “The … panel found a lack of evidence that remdesivir improved outcomes that …
Read More »Uganda records 100% increase in measles deaths – MOH
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A total of 150 deaths occurred last year due to measles according to the Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization. According to the Ministry of Health figures, the deaths recorded last year showed an increase of over 100 percent. In 2018, the number of deaths …
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