A worker arranges the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at National Medical Stores in Entebbe, Uganda, July 31, 2021. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
ENTEBBE, Uganda, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Saturday received a donation of 300,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccines from the Chinese government.
The vaccines received here, 40 km south of the capital Kampala are a major boost to the East African country's vaccination exercise aimed at stopping the surge of COVID-19 cases, according to Ruth Aceng, minister of health.
Zhang Lizhong, Chinese ambassador to Uganda said the donation came at a critical time when Uganda wants to vaccinate its people in efforts to curb the spread of the pandemic.
"To bring the pandemic under control requires unity, solidarity, cooperation and actions by the global community. We should reject any form, any attempt of politicization, labeling or stigmatization. We should work together to put the pandemic under control," the ambassador said.
Munir Safieldin, UNICEF representative in Uganda, hailed China for the continued support to developing nations in the fight against the pandemic.
He added that the developed world needs to continue making it possible for developing nations to access COVID-19 vaccines.
Uganda, according to the ministry of health, expects to receive at least 12.3 million COVID-19 vaccines by early 2022.
The country aims at vaccinating about 22 million people, or nearly half the population as a measure to put the pandemic at bay. According to the ministry of health figures, about 1.1 million people have been vaccinated since the exercise started in March this year.
As the country awaits more vaccines, the health ministry urged the public to continue adhering to the COVID-19 prevention measures like avoiding mass gatherings and hand sanitization, among others. Enditem
