Transparency International reveals that persistent corruption is undermining health care | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | The 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released on Jan 28, by Transparency International reveals that persistent corruption is undermining health care systems and contributing to democratic backsliding amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries that perform well on …
Read More »Health experts worried about school re-opening
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health experts are worried that the reopening of educational institutions for non-candidate might trigger a surge in COVID-19 cases if schools do not fully adhere to the required Standard Operating Procedures -SOPs. During the first phase of re-opening, schools were required to put in place …
Read More »Will the Covid-19 vaccine work on the new variants?
Scientists are working to understand what mutations of the virus mean for inoculation strategies COVID-19 SPECIAL FEATURE | KATHERINE ELLEN FOLEY | As researchers become more aware of strains of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, public health officials have one question: Will vaccines offer protection against them? At the moment, …
Read More »Why the EU has authorized AstraZeneca – Oxford COVID-19 vaccine
Brussels, Belgium | XINHUA | The European Commission granted conditional marketing authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by British company AstraZeneca and Oxford University on Friday, although the bloc seems unlikely to get the amount of doses as agreed for the moment. “Securing safe vaccines for Europeans is our utmost …
Read More »Museveni scoffs at NDA as Uganda launches COVID-19 cure trials
Kampala, Uganda | FLAVIA NASSAKA | President Yoweri Museveni has expressed displeasure at what he called a ‘slave mentality’ among scientists in Uganda. “I do not know what the problem with Africans. If the Europeans do not get a solution, we wait and die? This I cannot accept,” he said. The …
Read More »Ugandan herbalists submit 40 COVID-19 ‘cures’ for testing
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Herbalists in the Acholi sub region have submitted 40 potential herbal remedies for COVID1-19 for basic scientific drugs tests. The potential cures were last week handed to the Gulu University Pharm-Bio Technology Traditional Medicine Center (Pharmbiotrac) of Excellence, for basic testing. According …
Read More »Health committee decries stagnant NMS budget in 2021/2022 estimates
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The chairperson of the health committee of parliament, Dr. Michael Bukenya has expressed concerns about possible continued drug stock outs following a failure by the government to improve on the budget for the National Medical Stores (NMS) in the next financial year. Bukenya’s comments come …
Read More »Namisindwa voters task presidential candidates on better service delivery
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Voters in Namisindwa district have tasked the presidential candidates to prioritize service delivery in the district when voted into office. They argue that their area is lagging in terms of quality services ranging from the health care system which is characterized by frequent drug stock-outs …
Read More »Kyagulanyi pledges to improve health centers in Namisindwa
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Unity Platform presidential candidate, Robert Kagulanyi Ssentamu has pledged to improve health facilities in Namisindwa district. Speaking during his campaign meeting at Magale town council playground on Wednesday evening, Kyagulanyi said most of the health centers in the district are in a sorry …
Read More »Expectant mothers in Amudat travel 40 kilometres to deliver in Kenya
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Expectant mothers in Amudat district trek a distance of more than 40 kilometres to access maternal services in neighboring Kenya. This is a result of lack of adequate facilities and midwives in the district. According to records at the district health department, there are …
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