By Leilah Bbaale
By next year Uganda will not depend on other countries to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic according to President Yoweri Museveni.
At the moment, over 80 percent of the country’s response is dependent on supplies, research and recommendations from global health agencies. For instance, the treatment regimen used to manage patients is based on research and studies that have taken place abroad.
Also the vaccine used, the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine was developed by researchers in the U.K
In addition to this, the PCR re-agents used to carry out testing for the disease are also procured from abroad. The country also still imports rapid diagnostic kits to test for COVID-19.
Health equipment such as personal protective equipment like body suits, gloves and some masks are still imported. At the moment, the country is asking neighbouring Kenya for Oxygen to increase supply due to shortages.
Despite what appears to be the country’s high dependency on neighbours and friends to manage the disease, President Museveni says next year, all this will be history.
According to the President, with ongoing research on a possible treatment for COVID-19 and a vaccine, the country will no longer depend on others. He says two therapeutic herbal treatments have shown promise.
