By Spy Uganda
Kampala: President Museveni has confirmed that the Ugandan Covid-19 drug code-named UBV-01N concocted from various natural products is making progress and soon Uganda will forget about waiting for foreigners’ vaccines.
Museveni noted that the drug whose most of its ingredients are herbs is already under usage in different communities of the country.
This drug is able to kill viruses, stop inflammations and modifies the work of the body’s immune system. These are all properties that developers say are very vital in curbing complications and deaths from Covid-19.
The government launched clinical trials for the locally-developed drug back in January.
President Museveni made the remarks at the opening of the World Health Summit On Sunday evening at Speke Resort Munyonyo saying the country is making progress as far as the Covid-19 drug is concerned adding that it has cured many people.
‘’With the therapeutics, one of our products has been tried among some patients and most of them have fully recovered, while others are still on treatment,’’ Museveni said.
Museveni further noted that they hope to reach 124 patients that have recovered fully before they are sure that the medicine treats Covid-19. He also saluted outsiders who have helped in the development of the drug and also appealed to the scientists in the country to work together.
He said research into traditional medicine is very important especially in Africa because many Africans rely fully on local herbs for treatment which work on a big number of diseases across Africa.
“Research into traditional medicine is particularly important in Africa in making good use of our natural and richly endowed environment. In Africa, up to 80% of the population uses traditional medicine for primary health care. The age-old cures that kept our forefathers disease-free must be given enough attention so that we improve on them and preserve their use,” he said.
According to Museveni, the Ugandan-made Covid-19 vaccine is progressing well and it will be ready by November 2021.
Making a vaccine involves 9 or 8 phases if WHO allows you to skip one phase. Our researchers are now entering stage 4. We hope to get to stage 8 by November 2021. I can assure you that by the end of 2021, we shall no longer be waiting for outsiders to rescue us from mass death,” Museveni said.
