Rwanda-born Zipline, famed for delivering blood and vaccines across Africa, is now dropping burritos in Texas for the American fast-food chain, Chipotle. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Zipline, the Rwanda-born drone logistics company, is now delivering Chipotle burritos to homes in Rowlett, Texas, the company said in an …
Read More »Rwanda reconsiders malaria vaccines amid surprise surge
In 2024, malaria cases rose by more than 45 per cent in one year, reaching 620,000. Kigali, Rwanda | KELLY RWAMAPERA | After years of progress in reducing malaria cases, Rwanda is confronting a surprising resurgence and signs of treatment resistance that have forced officials to revisit vaccine intervention the country …
Read More »Africa goes local to boost pharma sector
Africa is building a new vaccine future through strategic investments, skilled workforce development, and local manufacturing. From Kenya to Rwanda, deals for new facilities and skills development promise to reduce reliance on foreign pharma supply chains. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | At a warehouse in Kilifi, Kenya, in June …
Read More »Vaccines: Best gift you can give to your baby
New theme as Uganda conference pushes triple strategy against HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | To mark its hosting of the Triple Elimination Conference in Africa scheduled for July 21-23 in Kampala, Uganda is rolling out a bold and unprecedented strategy to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of three …
Read More »All children to get Hepatitis B vaccine at birth
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | All newly born babies countrywide will soon be subjected to yet another vaccine, after the Ministry of Health announced plans to roll out the hepatitis B jab at all health facilities offering immunization services. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Dr Ronny Bahatungire, …
Read More »New study reveals high levels of vaccine wastage in Uganda
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Findings of a new study by researchers at Makerere University School of Public Health shows high levels of vaccine wastage in both rural and urban health facilities in Uganda. The research was conducted in Mukono and Kalungu districts where the scientists assessed wastage rates …
Read More »AMREF improves access to HPV vaccines for girls out of school
Nakaseke, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Local authorities in Nakaseke District are calling on the Ministry of Health to extend the delivery of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine beyond schools into communities in a bid to reach more girls, especially those out of school. Speaking to Uganda Radio Network (URN), …
Read More »Mpox vaccines roll out
Sex workers have been twice victimised, first by the virus and then by the stigma, but advocates hope the government will prioritise their safety Kampala, Uganda | ESTHER NAKKAZI | When Brian Lubega, a 30-year old resident of Kawempe in Kampala, heard a radio announcement about mpox vaccine distribution in his …
Read More »Africa’s ambitious push for vaccine independence
Can the continent walk the talk? **** The African Union has embarked on one of its most audacious health security missions: Ensuring that the continent manufactures 60% of its own vaccines by 2040. Africa currently manufactures a lowly 1% of the vaccines. However, since April 2021, when the AU …
Read More »WHO donates over 2,000 doses of Ebola trial vaccine to Uganda following new outbreak
KAMPALA | Xinhua | The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated 2,160 doses of Ebola trial vaccine to Uganda to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine in combating the virus which in the recent outbreak has killed a health worker in Kampala, the country’s capital. WHO is working with Uganda’s …
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