Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Health Organisation needs USD 1.3 billion (4 trillion Shillings) to meet its COVID-19 second response plans for 2020. The money is needed to ensure that the agency can provide testing kits, masks, medical gowns, gloves, face shields and other essential medical equipment needed …
Read More »US reversal prevents UN vote on pandemic truce
United Nations, United States | AFP | The United States on Friday stunned other members of the UN Security Council by preventing a vote on a resolution for a ceasefire in various conflicts around the world to help troubled nations better fight the coronavirus pandemic, diplomats said. Washington’s reversal came a …
Read More »Africa could have 44 million COVID-19 infections this year- WHO
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The African continent will have 44 million infections and about 19,000 deaths if countries fail to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease-COVID-19. This is according to a study carried out by the World Health Organisation regional office for Africa and published in the British …
Read More »WHO cautions against use of Madagascar anti-virus potion
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The World Health Organization on Thursday advised governments to clinically test a herbal drink touted by Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina as a remedy against coronavirus. The Covid-Organics infusion is derived from artemisia — a plant with proven anti-malarial properties — and other indigenous herbs. Rajoelina …
Read More »The Wuhan lab at the heart of the US-China virus spat
Beijing, China | AFP | The Chinese laboratory accused by top American officials of being the source of the coronavirus pandemic conducts research on the world’s most dangerous diseases. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have both claimed that there is evidence the pathogen came from the …
Read More »Red Cross looks to global influencers to fight virus ‘infodemic’
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The Red Cross on Tuesday launched what it said was the first global network of social media influencers to battle misinformation about the new coronavirus and spread lifesaving content about the pandemic. Experts have been warning for months that the pandemic has been cloaked in a …
Read More »WHO says has no proof from US on ‘speculative’ Wuhan lab claims
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization said Monday that Washington had provided no evidence to support “speculative” claims by the US president that the new coronavirus originated in a Chinese lab. “We have not received any data or specific evidence from the United States government relating to the …
Read More »Malaria still kills 1,100 a day
It can’t afford to lose resources to coronavirus | FREDROS OKUMU | Today, another 1,100 people will die from malaria. The number will be repeated tomorrow, and the day after. As a public health researcher, I embrace the idea that all lives have equal value. That our goal is much …
Read More »Danish Govt gives sh6bn COVID-19 support to Uganda
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Danish Government has offered sh6 billion (14,500,000 Danish Kronner) to support Uganda’s efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The two grants, 10 million DKK for WHO and 4.5 million DKK for UNFPA, aim at supporting Government of Uganda’s efforts towards the emergency response to the …
Read More »Health experts want WHO to find source of COVID-19
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | International health experts have asked the World Health Organisation (WHO) to identify the animal source of the coronavirus (COVID-19) so as to enable further research. The need to find the source was one of the recommendations that health experts made to WHO during the …
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