How drug industry is undermining WHO plans | TIMOTHY HUZAR | Since June 2021, the WHO has been coordinating a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa. The hub is important because it will increase the availability of mRNA vaccines, including those for COVID-19, in Africa, …
Read More »Makerere agrees to admit bio-medics
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Makerere University Admissions Committee has enrolled 26 out of the 33 students from Biomedical Sciences who appealed for consideration. For about five years, applicants for this course have been struggling to get enrolled. The 26 appealed to the admissions committee to effect a 2018 …
Read More »COVID: Chinese researchers develop 4-minute PCR test
Researchers at Fudan University in Shanghai say they have developed a technology combining the speed of the rapid antigen test with the accuracy of PCR testing. | THE INDEPENDENT | Chinese scientists say they have developed a COVID-19 test that can process results as accurately as the polymerase chain reaction …
Read More »Ending Female Genital Mutilation
How COVID-19 undermines cross border efforts to curb the vice Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | As countries introduce more comprehensive anti-Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) laws and policies, cross-border FGM has emerged as a new trend among practising communities to evade prosecution. And it has been escalated by the COVID-19 …
Read More »Health Minister: Uganda’s COVID-19 third wave over
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda is past the third wave of COVID-19, Health Minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has announced. She revealed this during a press briefing at the health ministry headquarters in Kampala, Tuesday. “While the country is out of the 3rd COVID-19 wave, registering a low …
Read More »Up to 15% of women in Uganda cannot access contraceptives
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fifteen percent of the women in Uganda can’t access contraceptives. In the survey which was conducted jointly by the Ministry of Health, Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), and Makerere University School of Public Health, researchers say sexually active respondents were asked whether they intended …
Read More »COVID-19: Uganda receives 1,000 oxygen cylinders
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has received more than 1000 oxygen cylinders, thanks to the Danish International Development Agency-DANIDA. The Danish agency procured the oxygen cylinders through the World Health Organisation-WHO as part of their donations to Uganda’s response to COVID-19. Each of the cylinders …
Read More »Kampala doctor held over human trafficking
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Immigration officials and Police are holding a doctor suspected to be part of a human trafficking racket that has been operating in Kasubi, a Kampala city suburb. Agnes Igoye, the deputy coordinator for the prevention of trafficking in persons at the Ministry of Internal …
Read More »Suspected anthrax outbreak in Madi Okollo
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Madi Okollo District authorities are investigating a suspected outbreak of Anthrax disease. This follows the death of three animals from a kraal in Payonga village, Panduku parish in Pawor Sub County. Walter Avaga, the assistant veterinary health officer in charge of Lower Madi County …
Read More »I did not touch COVID-19 vaccine research billions – Elioda Tumwesigye
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye says that his ministry was not directly involved in the planning process for developing a COVID-19 vaccine. Tumwesigye was on Wednesday appearing before Parliament’s Select Committee that is inquiring into the utilization of …
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