By Hannah Marion Namukasa
President Yoweri Kagutta Museveni today officiated at launch of clinical trials for a Ugandan-made drug, UBV-01N, designed to treat Covid-19. He urged Africans to seek home-grown solutions and cut reliance on the West, what he called “intellectual slavery”.
The drug is a product of the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute, anticipated to have antiviral (kill viruses), anti-inflammatory (reduces over reaction of the body to infections) and immunological (directs the immune system in the right direction) abilities.
For this clinical trial, the drug, already approved by NDA and UNBS, will be administered to 128 male and female patients who will present Covid-19 symptoms at Mulago Hospital.
“Uganda and Africa must work for self-reliance and avoid waiting for solutions from the West.
We shall not accept dependency. You must build an independent Uganda. We are working on the vaccine and treatment by ourselves,” President Museveni said
He added, “I don’t know the problem of Africans. How can you seat here dying while waiting for Europeans to come and help you? This I can’t accept it.”
President Museveni Commended the physicians for the hard work in relation to fight covid 19 pandemic before pledging that he will ensure this year scientists are well paid.
currently Uganda has 39,261 confirmed cases, 14,051 recoveries and 318 death.
