Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Twenty-two countries in the world have not yet reported any case of COVID-19, even as the rest of the world is battling to contain the virus. The countries that have reported no cases so far come mainly from two continents-Africa and Asia. In Africa, the …
Read More »Public distrust hampers Africa fight against virus misinformation
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | African nations fighting the novel coronavirus face a foe as stealthy and dangerous as the microbe itself: misinformation and apathy, fuelled by deep distrust of government. Bogus news and indifference to official warnings are emerging as giant obstacles in a region where poor healthcare infrastructure, …
Read More »Africa’s weak health systems face escalating virus peril
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Equipment shortages, scarce beds and poorly-paid doctors and nurses: Africa is finding that it has few means to protect itself as a feared coronavirus tsunami looms. Earth’s poorest continent has so far confirmed around 1,800 cases and 57 deaths — a tally that is low compared …
Read More »Leaders urged to fulfill commitments to end TB
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Health Organisation has called upon world leaders to fulfill their commitments to end Tuberculosis by providing preventive TB treatments to citizens. A quarter of the world ‘s population is estimated to be infected with TB bacteria. These people are neither sick nor …
Read More »COVID-19 pandemic ‘accelerating’: WHO chief
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The new coronavirus pandemic is clearly “accelerating”, the World Health Organization warned Monday, but said it was still possible to change its trajectory by going on the attack. The remarks came as the number of deaths soared past 15,000, with more than 341,000 people infected worldwide, …
Read More »Worldwide virus lockdowns as WHO warns young people ‘not invincible’
Rome, Italy | AFP | Hundreds of millions of people worldwide kicked off the weekend under a coronavirus lockdown, as the global death toll accelerated sharply and the World Health Organization warned young people they were “not invincible”. The pandemic has completely upended lives across the planet, sharply restricting the movement …
Read More »Wuhan recovery gives rest of world hope: WHO
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization said Friday that the original epicentre in China of the coronavirus outbreak at last reporting no new cases gave hope to the rest of the world battling the pandemic. The city of Wuhan registered no new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours …
Read More »WHO backs closure of schools, places of worship to curb coronavirus
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Health Organisation-WHO African region manager has backed the closure of schools and ban of public gatherings in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Matshidiso Moeti describes the decision taken by countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda as strong demonstrative measures to …
Read More »With low test rates, COVID-19 spreads in shadows
Paris, France | AFP | The lack of available tests for COVID-19 means the world is effectively fighting the pandemic blind and may not know the true extent of infection for months if not years, experts said Thursday. Because COVID-19 is so infectious — roughly 2.5 times that of the common …
Read More »Coronavirus: COMESA agency issues tough warning to companies
Kampala, Uganda | Julius Businge | The Lusaka based COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) on March 17th issued a warning to companies and individuals that are selling products which are not medically tested and approved which they claim can treat or prevent the world pandemic, coronavirus. Signed by George K. Lipimile, the director and …
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