Uganda among top ten in COVID-19 testing in Africa

By Christopher Bendana.

Kampala

Uganda is one of the ten African countries with the highest COVID-19 tested population.  The ten most tested countries were revealed by Dr. John Nkengasong, Africa CDC Centre director during a virtual press conference with the media on June 18 from the center’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Other countries with the highest tested COVID-19 populations include Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, and Egypt.  They accounted for 80% of all tested 3.7 million Africans as of June 16.

He said the situation was dire in some countries.

“Other countries are struggling,” he said.

The Africa CDC has been encouraging testing so that those infected can be isolated, treated, and thereby limiting new infections.

Relatedly, Nkengasong said Africa CDC and the African Union Commission will meet next week to discuss COVID-19 vaccine production and collaboration efforts.

We have the capacity to develop our own vaccine,” he noted, citing the manufacture of the yellow fever vaccine by Senegal.

He said by June 16, five countries accounted for 64 % of all the cases on the continent. They are South Africa, Egypt. Algeria, Nigeria, and Ghana.

Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the health ministry spokesperson said Uganda has so far conducted about 160,000 tests.