By Muhammad Saleh, ’24
The substantial number of COVID-19 vaccines being exclusively distributed and administered has led to the re-opening of wealthier countries. The added burdens of dealing with a global pandemic seem to be fading away. However, for many of the world’s least developed nations, the vision of achieving widespread immunization may not be attainable for a long time. In Uganda, the ongoing struggles against the virus are only becoming more difficult to overcome, forcing the country to remain under lockdown. Despite how well the nation implemented safety protocols early on during the global pandemic, COVID-19 is unexpectedly re-emerging in Uganda at an unprecedented rate. Those extreme protective measures are taking a severe toll on the Ugandan economy, which is currently hindering their efforts at controlling a second wave.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has Uganda categorized under Level 4 (very high) in regards to COVID-19 presence, which signifies that even fully vaccinated individuals should avoid traveling to the country. Uganda’s fight against COVID-19 is hindered by their limited access to vaccines. Recent data shows that at least 1,110,867 vaccine doses have been administered in the country. Assuming that each person requires two doses to be fully vaccinated, that amount is only enough to provide for 1.3% of the Ugandan population.
The process of administering the vaccines is immensely challenging as well, for it requires a limited number of healthcare providers to be heavily exposed to the virus. The initial supply of only 864,000 vaccines that Uganda received through the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “COVAX” initiative was primarily invested in at-risk individuals, including healthcare workers, teachers, and patients with underlying conditions. Despite these urgent actions, Uganda has lost several doctors, nurses, and other individuals who are qualified to administer vaccines to the rest of the population. The current rate of vaccine administration stands at 2,393 doses per day, which indicates that it will take approximately 10 more years for at least 10 more percent of their population to be vaccinated.
The COVAX initiative has overall failed to live up to its purpose of establishing more equitable vaccine distribution to least developed countries. The program is not receiving adequate investment from wealthier nations, causing countries like Uganda to further endure the virus while global powerhouses dominate the collection of produced vaccines.
Amidst the country’s lockdown, local communities and organizations in Uganda are housing highly vulnerable families and need access to further resources. The Adonai Centre is determined to provide protection and relief to those affected within the Namugoga community. This past June, a Facebook post by pastor Aloysious Luswata of the Adonai Centre expressed hope during these difficult and uncertain times for his community. With additional families in need of medical protection, the local hospitals are at full capacity, and they are left without a reliable source of transportation. Pastor Luswata notes that “what is going on is heartbreaking” and that “God’s intervention is key in this situation.”
The Adonai Centre has several ongoing projects geared towards providing immediate aid as well as long-term support to those vulnerable to COVID-19. Among these projects is an effort to establish and expand a mobile clinic that would provide medical assistance to around a thousand people within and near the community. Additional funds are also being sought after in order to secure a medical truck that can be used to efficiently transport supplies. Success with these projects will not only advance the delivery of testing kits and vaccines but will also better equip their medical facility to treat individuals suffering from a variety of harmful conditions.
Muhammad Saleh is a part of Northwestern’s class of 2024. He became a GROW 2021 intern after finishing his first year in GlobeMed.