United Nations | Xinhua | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been in self-isolation after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, said Farhan Haq, his deputy spokesman. “He has shown no symptoms and has initially tested negative. Out of an abundance of caution, he has canceled all his …
Read More »Health rights activists criticize UHRC over compulsory vaccination
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health rights activists have blasted Uganda Human Rights Commission-UHRC for downplaying the right of Ugandans to reject vaccination. It comes a day after the Commission chairperson, Mariam Wangadya, said that Ugandans have no right to reject the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination exercise during a press conference …
Read More »WHO advises against convalescent plasma treatment for Covid-19
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Health Organization-WHO has updated its guidelines on COVID-19 therapeutics, excluding use of convalescent plasma for non-severe COVID-19 patients. While the organization gives researchers testing efficacy of plasma in treating severe and critical COVID-19 patients in clinical trials a go ahead, they say in their …
Read More »NPA predicts increase in Covid-19 cases this week
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The latest predictions by the National Planning Authority (NPA) show that Uganda will record an increase in COVID-19 cases this week, predicting a total of 310 cases by end of the week. In an update to journalists on Tuesday, Eng. Abraham Muwanguzi who manages the …
Read More »Omicron Covid-19 variant detected at Entebbe
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Seven cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been detected in the country. This is according to results released by the Uganda Virus Research Institute. The results were from samples of travelers that were tested at Entebbe International Airport. This was confirmed by the …
Read More »Refusal to be vaccinated isn’t a right, it is irresponsible: UHRC
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Human Rights Commission has advised Ugandans that they do not have a right to reject vaccination. The Commission chairperson Mariam Wangadya, says there is nothing like a right for someone to reject vaccination as some sections of the public have been arguing. Wangadya …
Read More »UVRI to study Moderna, Sanofi efficacy in protecting people at risk of critical Covid-19
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Researchers at the Uganda Virus Research Institute-UVRI, will this month start testing Moderna and Sanofi Covid-19 vaccines among pregnant women, the diabetic, and people living with other underlying conditions to see whether they will be protected from getting critical illness if they get infected. In …
Read More »Vaccination remains key to school reopening: Education ministry
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of State for Education and Sports (Higher Education), Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo has said vaccination remains key in determining the total reopening of schools. Although President Museveni stated last month that the economy will reopen with or without vaccination come January 2022, the …
Read More »Beyond COVID-19, governments must adopt human rights approach to manage health crises – experts
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As Ugandans wait for President Yoweri Museveni to fully reopen the country next month, experts are saying, future public health crises should be managed using a human rights approach. Speaking at the 9th Virtual Townhall Meeting on Dec.06, Nicholas Opiyo, a human rights …
Read More »Prolonged closure of Entebbe Hospital irks residents
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The prolonged closure of Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital has irked residents. The hospital closed the outpatient, dental, optical, maternal and child care departments in March last year to focus on the management of COVID-19 patients. Before its closure, the hospital served more than a …
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