Inoculating against the ‘infodemic’ in Africa

On entering Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport, visitors are greeted by posters on how to prevent COVID-19 transmission, even before having their temperatures taken by medical staff.  Video messages play in the departure and arrival lounges. So far, the number of people in Africa confirmed to have the virus is much smaller than other parts of the world. But as more health ministries in Africa have confirmed the presence of the virus in their countries, what was once a distant threat is now much closer.  

Update on Uganda’s preparedness activities on the 2019- Coronavirus outbreak

Kampala, 20 February 2020: – The Ministry of Health working with partners has concluded investigations into rumours that have been circulating on social media alleging that there is a suspected case of the 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in construction camps both in Buliisa and Masindi districts.
 
A joint Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance team visited 4 construction camps in Masindi- Paraa road and the 5th camp in Buliisa and established that:

Uganda’s Ministry of Health Receives Equipment Worth Nine Million Dollars

Kampala, 10 February 2020- The Ministry of Health received cold chain and transport equipment worth nine million dollars procured through United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) with support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). The equipment included 657 motorcycles, 996 solar fridges, 10 generators, vaccine carriers and cold boxes.

Press Statement on Yellow Fever in Moyo and Buliisa districts in Uganda

Kampala, 27 Januarry 2020:- The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public of the confirmation of an outbreak of Yellow Fever in Moyo District in West Nile region and Buliisa District in Hoima region. 

In Moyo District, there are two confirmed cases, both are males aged 18 and 21 years. The two cases were dealing in cutting and trading timber between Uganda and South Sudan. On 2 January 2020, the two cases travelled from South Sudan to Moyo.