Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Communications Commission-UCC has asked radio and television stations to avail airtime to government officials to mobilize people for Covid-19 vaccination. In a letter dated December 23rd 2021 and signed by Suzan Wegoye, UCC acting Executive Director, the Commission says it is implementing a …
Read More »Kampala hotel festive bookings bounce back – slowly
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Hoteliers in Kampala have registered improved guest booking this festive season compared to 2020, the worst year ever for the hospitality sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, the hoteliers say holiday seekers and tourists, …
Read More »Uganda drops one place on Africa Visa Openness Index
Uganda has dropped to eighth spot on the Africa Visa Openness Index this year according to the latest rankings published on Dec.13 by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Commission. Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | The Africa Visa Openness Index which has been published since 2016 …
Read More »U.S. FDA okays emergency use of molnupiravir pill for COVID-19
Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday authorized American pharmaceutical company Merck’s oral antiviral for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, the second pill approved for treating COVID-19 following the one from Pfizer. Merck’s pill, called molnupiravir, is authorized to use in adults with positive …
Read More »Ministry of health urges elderly to get booster Covid-19 jabs
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has asked the elderly and those living with other health conditions that compromise immunity to seek booster doses of COVID-19 jabs. This development comes after the country registered a hundred percent increase in cases in the last week. According to test …
Read More »2021 resilient economy
Ramathan Ggoobi Key interventions by government supported positive recovery Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Economic analysis for the year 2021 shows a somewhat positive recovery as opposed to a year before as government eased COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. According to the ministry of finance annual report which incorporates …
Read More »WHO chief says blanket vaccine booster programs may prolong COVID-19 pandemic
Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua | Blanket vaccine booster programs are likely to prolong the COVID-19 pandemic rather than ending it, as a result of unequal distribution of vaccines between rich and poor countries, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a …
Read More »U.S. FDA authorizes first oral antiviral for COVID-19 treatment
Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized Pfizer’s oral antiviral tablets for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, the first pill approved for COVID-19 treatment in the country. The pill, called Paxlovid, is authorized for use in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age …
Read More »Africa surge in COVID-19 cases fastest this year
But deaths remain low ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | An 83% surge in new COVID-19 cases in early December in Africa, driven by the Delta and the Omicron variants, is causing fewer deaths than previous surges—but more waves could be building as updated forecasts warn that the continent may not …
Read More »Nigeria destroys 1 million doses of expired COVID-19 vaccines
Abuja, Nigeria | Xinhua | Nigerian government on Wednesday destroyed over 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine withdrawn from across the country after being identified for having a short shelf life. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), which coordinates vaccination in the country, and the National Agency for Food …
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