WASHINGTON – The Biden administration is in the process of delivering 25 million vaccine doses to African countries in a massive effort to help African nations beat the COVID-19 pandemic. VOA’s Hayde Adams, the host of “Straight Talk Africa,” spoke with Akunna Cook, the U.S. deputy assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, about how the effort is going. The interview was edited for brevity and clarity. VOA: These are difficult times all over the world In Africa, only about 1% of the continent’s population is fully vaccinated. Please tell…
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More Than 700 Saved From Mediterranean This Weekend, Aid Group Says
MARSEILLE, FRANCE – Rescue ships picked up more than 700 people trying to cross the Mediterranean in makeshift vessels this weekend, mainly off the coasts of Libya and Malta, a migrant aid group said Sunday. The latest figures came as United Nations migration officials repeated their calls for a fairer mechanism to share the responsibility of caring for them, rather than leaving it to the Mediterranean countries. SOS Mediterranee said that its vessel, the Ocean Viking, had carried out six operations in international waters since Saturday. In the last intervention,…
Read MoreWHO Urges African Nations to Speed Up COVID-19 Vaccinations
GENEVA – The World Health Organization is urging African countries to ramp up preparations for COVID-19 vaccination rollouts in anticipation of the imminent arrival of millions of vaccine doses on the continent. WHO reports more than 6.2 million peop…
Read MorePfizer, BioNTech Agree to Produce COVID-19 Vaccine for Africa
Pfizer and BioNTech have reached an agreement with a South African company to produce their COVID-19 vaccine for distribution in Africa, the biotechnology companies said Wednesday.The Biovac Institute in Cape Town will manufacture 100 million doses of …
Read MorePfizer, BioNTech Agree to Produce COVID-19 Vaccine for Africa
Pfizer and BioNTech have reached an agreement with a South African company to produce their COVID-19 vaccine for distribution in Africa, the biotechnology companies said Wednesday.The Biovac Institute in Cape Town will manufacture 100 million doses of …
Read MoreCOVID-19 Surging in Africa, WHO Warns
NAIROBI – The World Health Organization has warned that COVID-19 is gaining ground in Africa, with the death toll jumping 43% in the past week. WHO says the continent recorded 1 million new cases in just one month, with several countries facing shortag…
Read MoreMalawi’s Survey Confirms AstraZeneca Vaccine Efficacy
BLANTYRE – In Malawi, a survey by the Ministry of Health to help ascertain the efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine has shown its effectiveness in fighting the coronavirus. The survey was based on current hospital admissions of COVID-19 patients across the …
Read MoreCourt Orders Ugandan Government to Regulate COVID-19 Treatment Costs
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Edward Bindhe was diagnosed in early June with COVID-19. Upon consultation with a doctor, he bought drugs off the shelf and stocked up on local herbs.Then, with a collapsed lung, failed breathing and total body weakness, Bindhe, who h…
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