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106 quarantined Ugandans test negative

By
Geoffery Serugo
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HEALTH PS: Dr Diana Atwiine

KAMPALA– At least 106 people who had been under quarantine for 14 days in Kampala over COVID-19 have tested negative.

According to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr Dian Atwiine tweeted that they tested negative after Virus Research Institute carried out the tests.

“What a great relief that of all 104 tested people today none is positive .I am sleeping soundly .May God give us sleep to compensate for all sleepless nights we have spent for 6 days,” she tweeted.

Uganda has so far registered 14 cases of COVID-19 and government has issued tough directives to regulate the spreading of the disease which is wrecking the world.

On Wednesday, President Museveni ordered the closure of public transport throughout the country and closure of schools.

 Meanwhile thee Trade Minister, Amelia Kyambadde on Thursday told security agencies to stop beating traders on suspicion that they selling non-food items in the markets.

President Museveni ordered the suspension of selling non-food items in the markets to avoid congestion which the experts have warned that it spreads the virus which so far killed over 20,000 people.

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Covid-19 crisis: Why Gov’t should bail out employers like Sudhir

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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World class Speke Resort Munyonyo.

 

The world economy is in a free-fall following the outbreak of the Covid-19 that has shut down the world and ground life to a halt.

In Uganda,the Covid-19 has forced the Shilling in downward spiral against the dollar, further forcing big businesses against the wall.

The hospitality sector has been one of the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Five-star hotels are recording record low occupancy rates after guests were forced to cancel bookings after the government ordered a near total lock-down.

Property mogul Sudhir Ruparelia, who controls a chain of five -star hotels in Kampala,this week announced the closure of Speke Resort Munyonyo while Kabira Country Club will be partially opened.

With the closure of Speke Resort Munyonyo,over 1000 workers were sent packing and an additional 1000 are also expected to follow suit anytime soon.

This has put livelihoods at stake, lending more credence to those calling for a bail out for Ruparelia.

With that background, economic experts have urged the government to consider stimulus packages for the hotel industry- to shield the economy from potential collapse.

Experts argue that bailing out major hoteliers like Ruparelia is very critical as to the hotel industry employs 667,000 of Uganda’s working population.

A bail out would enable big hoteliers like Ruparelia to offset losses caused by cancelled bookings,thus allowing the industry to maintain a workforce.

The United States Senate on Thursday approved a similar bailout package to starve the world’s biggest economy from collapsing.

“Uganda can borrow the example of Kenya where President Kenyatta has unveiled a stimulus package for the economy,”said an expert who declined being named.

On Thursday, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that corporate tax will be reduced from 30 per cent to 25 per cent and turnover tax from 3 per cent-1 per cent.

Kenyatta also announced that government ministries would pay out Shs13 billion owed out to local companies.

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#Covid-19: Ruparelia Foundation to give care packages to less privileged

By
Our Reporter
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Mr.Rajiv seen earlier here giving to the elderly.

 

Ruparelia foundation, a charity organisation founded and Managed by Sudhir Ruparelia and Rajiv Ruparelia is to give 5000 care packages to the less privileged across the country.

According to Mr. Rajiv Ruparelia, Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group said the gesture  of giving the 5000 care package is part of their core principles of reaching out to the needy in such circumstances like it is under the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

The 5000 families to benefit from 5000 care packages are to be drawn from across the country selected from the community. The package will include, sugar, soap, posho among other commodities.

“We thank the teams that are working tirelessly especially Health Minister, Permanent Secretary, doctors and nurses and all the medical teams, police and security agencies for the good work” Rajiv said.

Ruparelia Foundation has always reached out to the less privileged members in society. recently, the foundation donated and built toilets for schools in Kamwokya slums.

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COVID-19: District Governor cancels 95th DCA andother rotary meetings

By
Simon Kabayo
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Francis Xavier Ssentamu District Governor (D9211)

Rotarian Francis Xavier Ssentamu, the District Governor (District 9211 Uganda and Tanzania) has cancelled the District Conference and Assembly that was due to take place in Western Uganda Mbarara district on April 29, 2020 and all rotary meetings due to Coronavirus pandemic.

Ssentamu says the health and well being of the family of Rotary and the population we serve is always of paramount importance to them and he made the communication with a heavy heart but knowing it’s the right thing to do.

“It is with regret that I have to communicate bad news to you in relation to that the 95th DCA of D9211 to be held in Mbarara, Uganda. “Ssentamu said.

He says that a special team of District 9211 mandated to assess the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and recommend the best possible options has concluded that the 95th DCA must be cancelled.

The Governor says the team’s primary aim was to ensure the safety of the Rotary family and the community at large.

He says, In addition, the team also took into consideration the latest government advisories related to meetings and travel restrictions.

“The team did consider the option of postponement but concluded that there isn’t sufficient predictability of the pandemic currently developing in our region and hence concluded that it was not a viable option.” He adds.

Ssentamu says it is an unprecedented decision in their District but a right and necessary one as protecting the health and safety of their attendees and the community at large is their highest priority.

“At this time, we kindly ask that you do not contact the 95th DCA Registration Team to inquire about refunds as we work diligently to define the most appropriate approach for the same. The information will be communicated in due course. “He further remarks.

The governor says that with the cancellation of the DCA, they are already working on ensuring that all the official business normally conducted at the DCA will still be carried out using on-line tools available to them. This is important to ensure continuity with a smooth transition to the incoming team on July 1, 2020.

He says details related to any voting requirements will be sent out in due course. Other Rotary meetings and Events, further to the guidance government, it is also advised that all Clubs avoid in-person meetings and move all meetings online using various platforms available (zoom, goto meetings, Nextiva, Zoho, Skype, etc.) for the same. This may serve a good example of our Ability to Adapt.

“I have no doubt that we will come through this and gather in the future to celebrate with an even deeper appreciation for our work, our experiences, and the many connections we have made through Rotary. He states.

“Until then, thank you for your understanding of this difficult decision, please know that we will make decisions as quickly as we can. As I am sure you can imagine, Rotary members are operating in a challenging situation. Please be safe as you continue to take action and do well throughout the world. “Governor said.

On March 18, 2020 President Yoweri Museveni ordered for closure of all teaching institutions, Churches, bars in a bid to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus. Currently Uganda has no confirmed case of the Wuhan virus. The virus is currently spread to over 160 countries. According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, the virus has claimed 8,648 people and 207,855 confirmed to have tested positive.

 

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#Covid-19: US Embassy to evacuate its citizens from Uganda

By
Our Reporter
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US- Kampala mission

 

The American Embassy in Kampala has announced that it intends to airlift its nationals in Uganda amidst the out break of Coronavirus code named Covid-19.

The United States mission in Uganda is encouraging those intending to fly back to register with mission.

“Americans in Uganda: The embassy is considering arranging another commercial flight soon for US citizens who want to return to the US, if there is sufficient interest. Register interest by emailing KampalaUSCitizen@state.gov. For full details”

Uganda has registered 14 cases of #Covid-19 with no death. Yesterday President Yoweri Museveni informed the nation that the first victim of the #Covid-19 was responding well to treatment.

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Coronavirus: Prince Charles tests positive

By
Agencies
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prince-charles

The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus, Clarence House has announced.

Prince Charles, 71, is displaying mild symptoms “but otherwise remains in good health”, a spokesman said, adding that the Duchess of Cornwall, 72, has been tested but does not have the virus.

Charles and Camilla are now self-isolating at Balmoral.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen last saw her son, the heir to the throne, on 12 March, but was “in good health”.

The palace added that the Duke of Edinburgh was not present at that meeting, and that the Queen was now “following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare”.

A Clarence House statement read: “In accordance with government and medical advice, the prince and the duchess are now self-isolating at home in Scotland.

“The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire, where they met the criteria required for testing.

“It is not possible to ascertain from whom the prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks.”

The duke and duchess arrived in Scotland on Sunday. Charles had been displaying mild symptoms over the weekend and was tested by the NHS in Aberdeenshire on Monday.

The results came through on Tuesday night, showing he was positive.

Charles is still working, is up and about and in good spirits.

The 71-year-old heir to the throne last saw the Queen briefly on the 12 March. Three days earlier, mother and son had more protracted contact during the Commonwealth Day Service.

It is important to re-emphasise the Queen is in good health. She moved to Windsor last week, with the Duke of Edinburgh who came from his usual residence at Sandringham in Norfolk.

Given their age, 93 and 98 respectively, there will be particular care taken that they are not jeopardised by this virus.

Prince Charles and Camilla will be following governmental advice and isolating separately. It’s not a huge house but certainly big enough to isolate yourself within it.

They’ve got a small staff with them – and it’s expected Charles will now be in Scotland for a couple of weeks recovering from the symptoms.

The prince’s last public engagement was on 12 March – the same day he last saw the Queen – when he attended a dinner in aid of the Australian bushfire relief and recovery effort.

However, Charles has also been working from home over the last few days, and has held a number of private meetings with Highgrove and Duchy of Cornwall individuals, all of whom have been made aware.

A number of household staff at Birkhall – the prince’s residence on the Balmoral estate – are now self-isolating at their own homes.

A palace source said the prince has spoken to both the Queen and his sons – the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex – and is in good spirits.

The number of coronavirus deaths in the UK stands at 427, with more than 8,000 confirmed cases of the virus.

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Uganda confirms five more cases of Coronavirus

By
Our Reporter
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Uganda adds to the total of 375,498 confirmed cases worldwide. The virus started in the Chinese Wuhan city has since spread to 195 countries claiming 16,362 lives.

The five cases were confirmed by the director of health services in the ministry of health, Dr. Henry Mwebesa.  The confirmed cases include; a 63 year old man a resident of Najjanankumbi who recently travelled from Germany over the weekend and is currently hospitalized at Entebbe General Hospital.

A 57 year old man who works at Elegu board. The confirmed case has no history of travelling outside Uganda and is currently admitted to Adjumani hospital.

An eight month baby. The baby  is currently admitted to Iganga hospital. According to the Dr. Mwebesa, the baby and its parents had just returned from Kenya.

The last two cases are the two Chinese who part of the six who escaped from the quarantine. The six were arrested in Zombo district as they tried to force their way to Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Three MPs to be quarantined

By
Our Reporter
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Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has directed that three MPs and two staff who returned from Dubai, UAE be quarantined to avoid the spread of the coronavirus to their colleagues and their families.

This directive by the for MPs Kafeero Ssekitoleko(Nakifuma County), Cissy Namujju (Lwengo District) and Sempala Kigozi(Makindye Sabagabo) followed concerns by some legislators that the three declined to observe the mandatory 14 day quarantine as directed by the Ministry of Health upon their return.

Hon. Jalia Bintu (NRM, Masindi District) called for testing of all MPs and staff following allegations that some MPs who had returned recently from abroad had accessed the Parliament building.

“I want to propose that all of us get tested so that the country can be reassured that its representatives are secure. These MPs were in the canteen and touched everywhere. We are not sure if we are safe,” said Jalia Bintu.

Kawempe North MP, Hon. Latif Ssebaggala said that such legislators were putting their own families at risk of infection.

“We need a directive to follow up all these Members of Parliament and quarantine them by force,” Ssebaggala said.

Kasilo County MP, Hon. Elijah Okupa said it was upon all Ugandans especially leaders to paint a good image of self-protection and protection of those people who surround them.

“Last week, our team from the Pan-African Parliament retuned on a Monday but one of them, Hon. James Kakooza was here the following day to attend plenary and we had to send him away,” Okupa said.

The legislators also called for interventions in limiting access into the country through the porous borders and on Lakes Victoria and Albert.

“Security personnel are saying they want to leave the islands simply because there are no measures by Government to protect them while they check people crossing by water from Kenya,” said Hon. George Abott Ouma (NRM, Bukooli Island County).

Rukiga District Woman MP, Hon. Caroline Kamusiime asked the security agencies to pay more attention to small border areas between Rwanda and Uganda.

The Speaker revealed that four more members of the Committee on Health had been seconded to the National Taskforce to follow-up and oversee the work being done by the Health Ministry.

“These MPs have registered your concerns and will present them to the Health Ministry and other stakeholders at their next meeting, so that they can be urgently addressed,” said Kadaga.

The MPs include Hon. Michael Bukenya, (Chair, Health Committee), Hon. Sam Lyomoki, Hon. Fred Baseke, Hon. Robina Nakasirye and Hon. Beatrice Rwakimari.

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COVID-19: Gov’t to set up quarantine centers in schools

By
Our Reporter
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Finance Minister Matia Kasaija

The Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija has revealed that government is in the final stages of setting up some schools in Entebbe as quarantine centres.

Kasaija revelation followed concerns by Members of Parliament about the high costs incurred by the persons under isolation in hotels.

It has been reported that persons under isolation in hotels in Entebbe are paying US$100 per day.

The Finance Minister said that the Treasury is grappling with other concerns and is not in position to foot these bills as has been suggested.

“We realized that this was too expensive for these people to afford. They will soon be transferred to schools in Entebbe that have been identified to host them at no cost,” said Kasaija.

According to the Ministry of Health, there are over 1800 people under quarantine with nine cases tested positive for the covid-19.

President Museveni directed that Entebbe Airport is closed to prevent more persons coming into the country as a way of preventing the spread of the virus.

He has also called for limited travel within the country and emphasised hand washing and use of sanitizers as some of the measures.

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New WHO recommends preventing TB treatment to save millions of lives

By
Our Reporter
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Tuberculosis

World Health Organization (WHO) a scaling-up of TB preventive treatment among populations at highest risk

A quarter of the world‘s population is estimated to be infected with TB bacteria. These people are neither sick nor contagious. However, they are at greater risk of developing TB disease, especially those with weakened immunity. Offering them TB preventive treatment will not only protect them from becoming sick but also cut down on the risk of transmission in the community.

As we mark World TB Day 2020, the disease remains the world’s top infectious killer. In 2018, 10 million people fell ill with TB worldwide and 1.5 million people lost their lives to this disease.

“COVID-19 is highlighting just how vulnerable people with lung diseases and weakened immune systems can be,“ said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The world committed to end TB by 2030; improving prevention is key to making this happen. Millions of people need to be able to take TB preventive treatment to stop the onset of disease, avert suffering and save lives”.

Dr Tedros highlighted the importance to continue efforts to tackle longstanding health problems, including TB during global outbreaks such as COVID-19. At the same time, programmes already in place to combat TB and other major infectious diseases can be leveraged to make the response to COVID-19 more effective and rapid.

Although some progress has been made towards targets set at the UN high-level Meeting on TB in 2018, TB preventive treatment has been largely neglected. Global leaders committed to ensuring access to TB preventive treatment to at least 24 million contacts of people with active TB and 6 million people living with HIV by 2022.  To date only a fraction of that target has been reached, with countries putting less than 430,000 contacts and 1.8 million people on TB preventive treatment in 2018.

TB remains the top cause of death among people with HIV. TB preventive treatment works synergistically with antiretroviral therapy to prevent TB and save lives. Reinvigorated efforts by governments, health services, partners, donors and civil society will be needed to increase access to TB preventive treatment to the levels targeted.

WHO recommends a scale-up of TB preventive treatment among populations at highest risk including household contacts of TB patients, people living with HIV and other people at risk with lowered immunity or living in crowded settings.

WHO recommended that either a tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) be used to test for TB infection? Both tests are helpful to find people more likely to benefit from TB preventive treatment but should not become a barrier to scale-up access. Testing for TB infection is not required before starting TB preventive treatment in people living with HIV, and children under 5 years who are contacts of people with active TB.

WHO recommended new shorter options for preventive treatment in addition to the widely used 6 months of daily isoniazid. The shorter options that are now recommended range from a 1 month daily regimen of rifapentine plus isoniazid to 3 months weekly rifapentine plus isoniazid, 3 months daily rifampicin plus isoniazid, or 4 months of daily rifampicin alone.

“As people around the globe come together to commemorate World TB Day, WHO is calling on governments, affected communities, civil society organizations, health-care providers, donors, partners and the industry to unite forces and step up the TB response – notably for TB preventive treatment – to ensure no one is left behind,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme. “The new WHO guidance shows the way forward for millions to rapidly access new tools and shorter, safer options for preventive treatment. The time for action is now.”

TB preventive treatment is an affordable intervention that can prevent families from sliding into poverty and preserve the health and economy of whole communities. WHO anticipates that as new and safer drugs come onto the markets, and as prices fall, it will become a highly-cost effective way to save millions of lives.

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