COVID-19

As the coronavirus pandemic is now in its second year, the growing inequality between vaccines remains a major stumbling block in the fight against covid-19. However, the European Union thinks differently. On Monday, the EU stood firm in its refusal to lift patent protection for covid-19 vaccines, just days before a summit with countries in the African Union that see the issue as a priority.Since October 2020, India and South Africa have been calling on the World Trade Organization (WTO) to temporarily…

Ramadan, cultural myths blame Somalia's low COVID-19 vaccination price MOGADISHU, Somalia - The just-concluded holy month of Ramadan and a few cultural myths and, or misinformation, has been attributed to Somalia's low COVID-19 vaccination price, in a transfer that might put hundreds of individuals prone to getting the damaging virus. Somalia is certainly one of the international…

NEW DELHI - Ever since the new COVID-19 pandemic hit, several parts of the world have had their own share of challenges with nations ravaging deep economic crises and deaths, thus virtually destroying operations, whether government or privately sponsored. When the US, Brazil and Italy were hit the hardest, it seems that the wave has shifted to India, one of the world's giant economies. So fast are the cases spreading that even control of it has been so problematic and left thousands exposed? On Friday, people across…

In a move aimed at reducing the risk of more COVID-19 outbreaks in the country's overcrowded prisons, Zimbabwe announced an amnesty under the president that allowed the release of some 3,000 prisoners. About 400 prisoners were released from Chikurubi Prison and other prisons in the capital Harare on Saturday, and more are coming from other prisons across the country. Zimbabwe's prisons have a capacity of 17,000 prisoners but are held about 22,000 before the amnesty is declared by President Emmerson…

How Hormuud Telcom has shaped life in Somalia in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic MOGADISHU, Somalia - Probably the most reliable and efficient telecommunications company in the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hormuud Telecom, a leading privately owned telecommunications company based in Mogadishu, has played a critical role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to wreak…

Somalia has teamed up with international organizations to launch an online learning platform for primary school as the country struggles with the effects of COVID-19. The Ministry of Education said the alternative learning opportunity aims to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on education and intends to improve access to quality education for children affected by the pandemic. The online platform, launched in partnership with the EU, Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the Save the Children Somalia program, will…

KDF delivers COVID-19 vaccines to troops in Somalia NAIROBI, Kenya - Major General George Ng'ang'a, Director of Medical Services of the Kenya Defense Forces launched the Covid-19 vaccination exercise for troops deployed during the African Union mission in Somalia in Sector II headquarters in Dhobley. This is part of the ongoing Phase 1 of the national immunization program in the fight against…

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife have tested positive for Covid-19, according to government officials. Khan is "self-isolating at home," the country's health minister, Faisal Sultan, said on Saturday. The 68-year-old former international cricketer received his first dose of China's Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine on Thursday. The Sinopharm shot is the only Covid-19 vaccine available in Pakistan. Pakistan's health ministry said it could take a few weeks to develop immunity to the virus after vaccination…

NAIROBI - Kenya has offered free COVID-19 vaccines to all diplomats residing there, including thousands of UN staff, although it has not completed the inoculation of its own health workers, other front-line staff or seniors who draw criticism from local doctors. The offer was made in a March 18 letter sent by the State Department to diplomatic missions and seen by Reuters. Macharia Kamau, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, said the shots offered were delivered through the World Health Organization (WHO) co-led COVAX…

Somalia: Farmajo receives 1st dose of COVID vaccine MOGADISHU, Somalia - Outgoing Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Tuesday received the first shot of the historic COVAX vaccine to launch a vaccination campaign in the country. Farmajo described his decision as an important example of getting any Somali to see how safe the vaccines are and feel comfortable taking them. "I…