Gaborone, 27 April 2021: Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) through the National Health Laboratory (NHL) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) country office, conducted on 30-31 March and 12-16 April two training sessions on quality improvement programmes for the staff working at the National Health Laboratory. The programme is financially supported by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) project on COVID-19 response.

Worldwide, COVID-19 has overwhelmed the health systems and caused widespread social and economic disruptions. The WHO and The Republic of Korea are the latest to handover donations of lifesaving equipment and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test kits for COVID-19 response. The materials were officially handed over to Honourable Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health (MOH) by WHO Representative, Dr Desta Tiruneh on 26 April 2021.

25 April 2021 — Fifty-eight (58) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4341 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases twenty-four thousand, five hundred, and ninety-three (24593). To date, twenty-two thousand, nine hundred, and forty-one (22941) patients have recovered, including seventy-five (75) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one thousand, three hundred, and twenty-two (1322) and three hundred and thirty (330) deaths. 

As the COVID-19 vaccination gains momentum in various districts of Uganda, financial, material, human, and logistical resources are becoming increasingly scarce due to the prolonged nature of the pandemic. However, innovative health workers have continued implementing mitigating measures to ensure the COVID-19 vaccination exercise succeeds in the low-resourced environment.

At crack of the dawn on 25^th March 2021, Harriet Jai Jagne took a 15 minutes’ drive from Fajara to Brussibi, to get a lifesaving opportunity, COVID19 vaccine. She was accompanied by her daughter. On the same date a sizeable number of people turned out for the vaccine. The venue was well ventilated, under a big corrugated shade to protect both the vaccines and people  from direct sunlight which shone bright through the blue sky.  Harriet patiently followed the queue until it was her turn.

24 April 2021 — Seventy-six (76) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 5730 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases twenty-four thousand, five hundred, and thirty-five (24535). To date, twenty-two thousand, eight hundred, and sixty-six (22866) patients have recovered, including one hundred and seventy (170) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one thousand, three hundred, and forty-one (1341) and three hundred and twenty-eight (328) deaths. 

Attorney General & Minister of Justice, Honerable Dawda A. Jallow opened up about his experience following vaccination against COVID-19. He took his first shot of COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday 10th March 2021 at the State House in Banjul, The Gambia.  This was part of the launching of the COVAX vaccination rollout led by His Excellency President Adama Barrow, the President of the Republic of The Gambia, after the country received its first consignment of 36, 000 doses of Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine.

On the 25^th March 2021, Almamy Kassama was Johnny-on-the-spot. Almamy arrived at Turn Table vaccination centre in Brussibi, at 09:00am, just as the vaccinators were getting started. On the day he anticipated to be the first client to receive the crucial jab. He was surprised that thirty-four people were already seated ahead of him, in prearranged plastic chairs to ensure physical distance and minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Banjul - The Gambia commemorates the World Malaria Day (WMD) under the theme, “Zero Malaria- Draw the Line Against Malaria.” The Gambia is one of six countries in World Health Organization African Region that have achieved the 2020 milestones of reducing malaria cases and deaths by 40% compared to 2015. This was declared at a media briefing held to commemorate the WMD 2021 on 23rd April 2021. This achievement ensues while the country is still fighting COVID-19 pandemic.