Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that there’s no guarantee that people who have recovered from Coronavirus Disease and have antibodies are protected from a second infection. The matter was highlighted in its latest scientific brief released at a time when countries are using the antibody …
Read More »‘No evidence’ people with coronavirus are immunised: WHO
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Saturday that there is no evidence that people who test positive for the new coronavirus are immunised and protected against reinfection. The warning suggests that the issuance of “immune passports” may promote the continued spread of the pandemic. “There is currently no evidence …
Read More »Scientists, leaders unveil plan to accelerate new COVID-19 health technologies
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | World leaders, scientists, humanitarians and private sector partners have united in a landmark collaboration that will make new tools and medicines to diagnose and treat COVID-19, accessible to people everywhere. The virtual launch of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator has seen participation from …
Read More »UN pushes for virus vaccine as Trump disinfectant theory sparks outrage
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The United Nations on Friday launched a global push to speed up production of a vaccine for the new coronavirus as US President Donald Trump came under fire for suggesting injecting patients with disinfectant. The pandemic has upended life around the planet as nations try to …
Read More »COVID-19, the knockout punch for multilateralism?
Paris, France | AFP | The coronavirus pandemic blindsided international organisations, prompted individual states to unilaterally strike out alone and heralded a new chapter in the 21st century’s chief geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China. In the post-COVID-19 era, will multilateralism be dead? Regional and international organisations from the …
Read More »Gulu task force translates COVID-19 guidelines into Acholi
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Leaders in Gulu have translated the COVID-19 guidelines into vernacular to boost their response plan against the virus. The translation was done by an eight-member COVID-19 Gulu Task Force subcommittee on Risk, Communication and Community Engagement. The team included senior health workers and the material is …
Read More »In virus-hit Cuba, the struggle to get food on the table
Havana, Cuba | AFP | Yadira types out a message to her WhatsApp group, with the name of a Havana store where a supply of chicken has just arrived. Cuba already suffered from food shortages, but the coronavirus crisis has made finding food for the dinner table a veritable scavenger hunt, …
Read More »Disruption of immunization services could trigger disease resurgence -WHO
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging countries to ensure that routine immunization programmes continues even as the organization had previously called for a postponement of immunization campaigns in countries that have recently had outbreaks of immunisable diseases like measles. When immunization services are …
Read More »WHO warns malaria deaths could double during virus pandemic
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The new coronavirus pandemic could severely disrupt access to anti-malaria nets and drugs in sub-Saharan Africa, the World Health Organization said Thursday, warning that malaria deaths risked doubling if efforts are not urgently scaled up. The UN health agency called on countries in sub-Saharan Africa — …
Read More »China to give WHO $30 million more after US freezes funds
Beijing, China | AFP | China announced Thursday it will give another $30 million to the World Health Organization to help in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, days after Washington said it would freeze funding. The US, which is the WHO’s biggest contributor, accused the organisation last week of …
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