covid-19 – KMAUPDATES

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

Coronavirus – Tunisia: UNHCR Tunisia Flash Update #1 COVID-19

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 7, 2020/ -- In line with the announcement by the Tunisian National Security Council of the extension of the general lockdown until 18 April, UNHCR Tunisia will continue to rely on alternative working arrangements, to adapt and sustain existing activities, and to step up support to refugees and asylum seekers to meet current and emerging challenges.UNHCR declared a global internal Level 2 emergency on 25 March, in order to facilitate the response by activating emergency procurement, partner selection and other procedures.Essential support continues to be provided, such as emergency medical care, protection monitoring, psycho-social support, shelter, cash and food assistance, as well as legal assistance for urgent cases (i.e. arrest) and in detention. In-person ac...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Oxfam Warns of Hunger escalating amid the Pandemic.

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, UGANDA

KAMPALA – Oxfam has warned that hunger linked to COVID-19 could kill as many as 12,000 people a day by the end of the year, potentially claiming more lives each day than the disease itself. ‘The Hunger Virus,’ reveals how 121 million more people (globally) could be pushed to the brink of starvation this year as a result of the social and economic fallout from the pandemic including through mass unemployment, disruption to food production and supplies, and declining aid. In the Horn, East, and Central Africa (HECA) region, over 47 million people were already food insecure due to the triple crises of floods, locust infestation, and now COVID-19. Lydia Zigomo, Oxfam’s HECA Regional Director said: “DRC, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan were all already facing humanitarian emergencies...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

CORONAVIRUS: Police arrest four COVID-19 escapees in Rwanda

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, RWANDA

Rwandan police on Thursday arrested four people who had escaped from a COVID-19 treatment centre in Eastern province. The quartet, who contracted the disease and were receiving treatment at the centre set up at a secondary school in Ngoma district, escaped on Wednesday evening after breaking iron window bars, the Ngoma district police said in a statement. Security organs and local leaders worked together to locate their whereabouts and arrested them following a tip-off from people who saw them, the statement said. Security officers and medics are tracing their likely contacts, including their families, according to the statement. The police urged those who could have had contact with the quartet to come forward for tests and due treatment to prevent the spread of the pandemic....

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Bishop Lwere warns Pastors protesting on Closure of Churches, COVID-19 should not be a point to settle scores.

AFRICA, UGANDA

The leader of the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda, Bishop Joshua Lwere has warned pastors distressed by continued closure of Churches, to desist from attacking leaders and deviating from Godly ways as they demand for re-opening of Churches. This follows recent calls from religious leaders especially in Kampala City, calling on government to consider re-opening of Places of Worship as the country moves to lift the partial lockdown due to the covid-19 pandemic. Born-again pastors recently intensified agitation for re-opening of Churches in Uganda with a section of pastors attacking their leaders for not doing enough to push government to open the churches. This week, a group of pastors in Kampala City were seen putting on sack-cloth in protest of the c...

Jul92020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

Coronavirus: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in collaboration with Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention continues to conduct Infection Prevention and Control (lPC) training across Nigeria

CORONAVIRUS, Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria, July 9, 2020/ -- As part of efforts to reduce the risk of COVID19 infection among health workers, NCDC in collaboration with Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Continues to conduct lPC training across Nigeria The ongoing training in Katsina State is critical to reducing the risk of COVID19 transmission nationwide

Jul92020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

Coronavirus – Uganda: The Minister of Health commissions Donations East African Community (EAC) Secretariat

CORONAVIRUS, UGANDA

KAMPALA, Uganda, July 9, 2020/ -- The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng commissioned 2 mobile laboratories, 4 vehicles, laboratory test kits and other consumables donated by EAC Secretariat. This was an initiative by Govt of Germany and is a great boost to the COVID Response and other potential disease outbreaks

Jul92020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

AFRICA: More Kenyan frontline health workers test positive for COVID-19

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, KENYA

More than 71 frontline medical workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Kenya in the past one week, bringing the total tally to 257 since the outbreak of the disease in March. NAIROBI, July 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 71 more frontline medical workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Kenya in the past one week, bringing the total tally to 257 since the outbreak of the disease in March, the country's health ministry said on Wednesday. Health secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that the rise in numbers shows the vulnerability of the workers due to the nature of their work. A week ago, the number stood at 186, according to the Ministry of Health. "We will ensure that all health workers are protected by providing the necessary protective equipment because they are our frontline defende...

Jul92020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

CORONAVIRUS: Uganda registers 23 new cases, tally to 1,000

CORONAVIRUS, HEALTH, UGANDA

Results of COVID-19 tests that were conducted on Wednesday have confirmed 23 new cases, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases in Uganda to 1,000. Out of the 23 new cases; 12 are Ugandan nationals who returned from abroad. According to a statement by Dr Henry Mwebesa, the director general of health services at the ministry of health, eight people returned from Afghanistan, three from DR Congo and one from South Sudan. He said that they were all under quarantine at the time of the test. Dr Mwebesa said that three patients arrived via Mutukula, Afoji and Madi Opei points of entry while eight were contacts and alerts from Tororo, Hoima, Luweero, Kyotera and Arua districts. He said that 31 foreign truck drivers (24 Kenyans, 3 Tanzanians, 2 DR Congo nationals, one Rwandan and o...

Jul92020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

BUSINESS: Survey shows 37% of Kenyans were unable to pay their May rent.

AFRICA, KENYA

More than a third of Kenyans were not able to pay their rent for the month of May according to a government survey. The Survey on Socio Economic Impact of Covid-19 on Households Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 37 per cent of Kenyans were unable or would not be able to pay their May rent. The survey which was carried out in June involving 14,616 respondents, showed that the virus has ravaged the economy, affecting Kenyans across the board. According to the survey, almost 30.9 per cent of tenants who usually paid rent on the agreed date with their landlords before the pandemic were unable to pay on time for May. The report shows that only 31.6 per cent of households paid rent on time for May. The survey shows that 61 per cent of those who did n...

Jul82020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: Over 50,000 health workers across Africa have received infection prevention & control training from WHO since the COVID19 outbreak began

CORONAVIRUS, HEALTH

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), July 8, 2020/ -- Over 50,000 health workers across Africa have received infection prevention & control training from WHO since the COVID19 outbreak began. This is keeping health workers safe as they save lives from COVID-19 & other threats to public health.

Jul82020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Rev Kazimba urges the Government to open Churches.

AFRICA, UGANDA

The archbishop of the church of Uganda Rt Rev Dr. Steven Kazimba Mugalu has called upon the government to reconsider the opening of places of worship as the government eases up on the lockdown measures amidst the covid19 pandemic. Paying a courtesy visit at next media services for the very first time, the 9th archbishop of the church of Uganda Rt Rev Dr. Steven Kazimba Mugalu lauded Next Media Services for the role they have played in amplifying the works of the church especially during this covid19 pandemic where the places worship have remained under key and lock The COVID 19 pandemic and the closure of places of worship have seen Next Media Services repurpose some programs with Sunday church services turned digital. Despite this innovation, the archbishop says it’s time the go...

Jul82020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

AFRICA: Over 3,000 refugees displaced from Congo camp in Uganda

AFRICA, Democratic Republic of Congo, UGANDA

KAMPALA — More than 3,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) arrived in Uganda between Wednesday and Friday last week (1 – 3 July) during a temporary opening of two border crossing points at Golajo and Mount Zeu, north-western Uganda. The new arrivals were previously part of a larger group of approximately 45,000 people, according to local DRC authorities, who had attempted to flee towards the Ugandan border with the DRC shortly after deadly clashes erupted between armed militia groups in Ituri province on 17 and 18 May. While some have been able to return to their areas of origin, UNHCR spokesperson Charlie Yaxley says othersers had remained close to the border, unable to cross for more than a month due to closure of borders on the Uganda side to contain the s...

Jul72020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

UGANDA: Pandemic forces Children into child labour

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS

CHILD LABOUR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS To Jane, 16, a resident of Bwologoma village in Bugiri district, life during the COVID-19 pandemic is tough.Jane lives with her grandmother. Her life flipped upside down when schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.Her grandmother could no longer afford much which forced her to go digging in people's gardens to get money for food for her and her grandmother."It's hard to meet basic needs in these times. During school time, my grandmother would pay for my lunch at school but now we have to toil to get food for home," she says.Jane has to engage in commercial businesses like digging for people, fetching water and of recent hawking pancakes in the trading centre every evening.Jane is one of those children in Uganda who have turned into lab...

Jul62020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

CORONAVIRUS: WHO Africa Online Press Briefing on COVID-19 and vaccine development in Africa

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS

Ask your questions to the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso MoetiBRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), July 6, 2020/ -- Please join an online media briefing with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa (www.afro.who.int), and the Principal Investigator of Oxford Covid-19 Vaccine Trial in South Africa. The briefing is on-the-record and it is an opportunity for you to ask questions about the COVID-19 and vaccine development in Africa. The media briefing is facilitated by APO Group.Speakers include:Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for AfricaProfessor Shabir Madhi, Wits University, Principal Investigator of Oxford Covid-19 Vaccine Trial in South AfricaDate: Thursday 9 JulyTime: 12:00 Brazzaville/Kinshasa Time GMT +...

Jul62020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 Situation Report for Nigeria (4th July 2020)

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS

ABUJA, Nigeria, July 5, 2020/ -- The COVID-19 Nigeria situation report for 4th July, 2020 has been published.Our daily COVID-19 situation reports provide a summary of the epidemiological situation & response activities in Nigeria.

Jul62020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

Coronavirus – African Union Member States (54) reporting COVID-19 cases (464,821) deaths (11,100), and recoveries (223,421)

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 5, 2020/ -- African Union Member States (54) reporting COVID-19 cases (464,821) deaths (11,100), and recoveries (223,421) by region:Central (36,001 cases; 770 deaths; 19,278 recoveries): Burundi (191; 1; 128), Cameroon (12,592; 313; 10,100), CAR (3,969; 48; 914), Chad (871; 74; 787), Congo (1,557; 44; 501), DRC (7,411; 182; 3,184), Equatorial Guinea (3,071; 51; 842), Gabon (5,620; 44; 2,555), Sao Tome & Principe (719; 13; 267).Eastern (39,782; 1,131; 19,009): Comoros (311; 7; 266), Djibouti (4,792; 55; 4,593), Eritrea (215; 0; 56), Ethiopia (5,846; 103; 2,430), Kenya (7,886; 160; 2,287), Madagascar (2,941; 32; 1,108), Mauritius (341; 10; 330), Rwanda (1,092; 3; 523), Seychelles (81; 0; 11), Somalia (2,997; 92; 1,014), South Sudan (2,065; 40; 649), Sudan (9,...

Jul62020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

GHANA: Minister steps down after breaching COVID-19 protocol

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, ghana

A sitting Ghanaian lawmaker and deputy minister has resigned his ministerial post after admitting to openly flouting COVID-19 protocols at a time he had tested positive. The presidency confirmed in a July 3 statement that Carlos Ahenkorah’s resignation as Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry had been accepted by the president. “This follows the admission by the Deputy Minister of his breach of COVID-19 protocols, when, as a person certified to be positive for the virus, he visited a registration center in his constituency before the period of self-isolation was complete. “President Akufo-Addo is admonishing all of his appointees to bear in mind that they have to provide leadership, at all times, for adherence to the protocols that have been established to help the nation defeat ...

Jul22020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

CORONAVIRUS: World Bank donates Shs1 trillion to Uganda to fight Covid-19.

CORONAVIRUS, UGANDA

The World Bank has approved $300 million (about Shs1.1trillion) budget to aid Uganda in fighting the coronavirus Covid-19.The money will be used “to boost the government’s capacity to prevent, detect and treat coronavirus, protect the poor and vulnerable population and support economic recovery,” the Bank announced Tuesday. It said Uganda’s efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus had battered the country’s economy and was likely to send an extra 3.15 million citizens into poverty. Already, about 8.7 million Ugandans are living below the poverty line of less than two dollars a day. “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy and livelihoods. This budget support operation will enable the Government to provide vital services, social safety nets and...

Jul22020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Government dismisses Masaka Covid-19 Patients video in a fury.

CORONAVIRUS, UGANDA

A section of the public took to social media yesterday, criticising the Ministry of Health officials for looking on when hospitals abuse the rights of Covid-19 patients.Trouble started after ministry officials dismissed details in a video recorded by a asymptomatic nurse, who on behalf of other patients, denounced the horrid state of an isolation ward at Masaka hospital.The public accuses the ministry of refuting the claims instead of attending to the situation. A one Blessings Geokel tweeted: “Stop playing the defence game, please take off your knees from our necks, Mama, we can’t breathe!”On Sunday, Ms Mary Aliona, a Covid-19 asymptomatic patient, admitted to Masaka hospital, asked government for help following the facility’s sorry state.Ms Aliona claimed the hospital does not have r...

Jul12020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: MultiChoice reveals efforts to support global campaign on clumsy COVID-19 misinformation.

CORONAVIRUS, UGANDA

KAMPALA – The MultiChoice Group has unveiled another initiative in the fight against COVID-19. The group has said it has become an official supporter of the United Nations’ global COVID-19 awareness campaign Pause which launched globally on Tuesday June 30. The aim of the Pause campaign is to highlight the dangers of sharing false information related to COVID-19. The campaign asks everyone to pause, think and take care before sharing information which could be inaccurate or misinformed and may have harmful effects. “We are in a moment of global reckoning as COVID-19 and its social and economic consequences challenge the world in unprecedented ways.Misinformation, hate speech and fake news are fueling and distorting all of these challenges and eroding the truth. We are very exc...