The Arrival of COVAX vaccines Raises Hope in The Gambia

Representatvies of WHO, Dr. Desta Tiruneh and Uniccef, Mr. Lewis Jonathan and staff

Banjul International Airport, 2nd March, 2021

A milestone arrival of 36,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVAX vaccine in The Gambia; the vaccines were handed over to the Ministry of Health (MoH) at Banjul International Airport.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic when all countries are desperate to contain the virus transmission, The Gambia   received the first consignment of 36,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, a significant step in controlling the pandemic. The pandemic had its toll in The Gambia affecting the health, social and economic wellbeing of the citizens.

Public health experts elated with COVID-19 vaccine delivery, assure Nigerians of vaccine effectiveness and safety.

L-R Minister of Health, Director General, NAFDAC and WHO Country Representative receiving the vaccines in Abuja_Photo credit Ogbeide_WHO

Abuja, 8 March, 2021 - When Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, government officials and stakeholders heaved a sigh of relieve.

For Dr Osagie Ehanire, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, “It is a feeling of relief and elation that at last we are joining the community of nations who can vaccinate their citizens against COVID-19 disease  which has been raging across the world. We have to some extent lagged but are relieved that we can now start vaccinating our citizens. 

COVID-19 vaccines shipped by COVAX arrive in Sierra Leone

Dr Austin Hinga Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitation delivering the keynote statement at the event to mark arrival of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine in Sierra Leone under the COVAX Facility
Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday 8 March 2021 - Today, Sierra Leone received the first batch of 96,000 doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine shipped via the COVAX Facility, a partnership between the Government Sierra Leone, CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO. This is a historic step towards our goal to ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally, in what will be the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. The delivery is part of a first wave of arrivals of an initial 528,000 doses that will continue till end of May 2021.

Update COVID-19 06 March 2021

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

06 March 2021 — Eighty-three (83) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 5122 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases nineteen thousand, five hundred, and nine (19509). To date, seventeen thousand, eight hundred, and ten (17810) patients have recovered, including fifty-nine (59) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one thousand, four hundred, and forty-two (1442) and two hundred, and sixty-seven (267) deaths. 

Infodemics and the quest for verified information on COVID-19

World Health Organization (WHO) Gambia trained 60 local journalists on prevention and management of misinformation in the context of COVID-19.  From 18th to 19th January 2021, journalists were equipped with skills to deal with misconceptions and fake news like “COVID-19 is over".

Without a strong media engagement, the spread of rumours and misconceptions through social media and other means can slow the fight against the pandemic.

Update COVID-19 05 March 2021

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

05 March 2021 — Ninety-two (92) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4534 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases nineteen thousand, four hundred, and twenty-six (19426). To date, seventeen thousand, seven hundred, and fifty-one (17751) patients have recovered, including sixty-nine (69) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one thousand, four hundred, and eighteen (1418) and two hundred, and sixty-seven (267) deaths. 

Uganda receives 864,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines

  A UNICEF and WHO official receiving the initial batch of COVID-19 vaccines at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda A UNICEF and WHO official receiving the initial batch of COVID-19 vaccines at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda

KAMPALA- Friday, 6 March 2021– The Ministry of Health has today received 864,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, shipped via the COVAX facility—the world’s facility for universal access to COVID-19 vaccines.