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Volume 1, Nov. 2020 MAGAZINE PRESIDE COVID-19 in Uganda Is the Science Working? Volume 1, Nov. 2020 1 © PRESIDE Magazine A4 Magazine Ad.pdf 1 10/11/2020 17:04 CONTENTS We cannot Afford to Lag Behind in Science and Technology 6 Again C COVID-19 IN UGANDA: Is the Science Working? M WRITERS: 8 Y • Dr. Monica M. Musenero Combatting COVID-19: Uganda’s race against the CM • Prof. Vinand Nantulya 13 Clock MY • Dr. Sheila Balinda CY • Prof. William Bazeyo Safely Operating Schools amidst COVID-19 CMY • Dr. Serukka David 16 K • Brenda Ayugi Ojara • Eric Mwima Uganda has potential to develop COVID-19 Vaccine • Dr. Jeremiah Twa-Twa. 19 • Dr. Maxwell Otim Onapa • Brenda Nakazibwe 22 Epi Tent -The Tent That Breathes • Abel Wilson Walekhwa • Mary Nantongo Lukenge 25 The Science of the Mask EDITOR: • Paul Watuwa Timbiti Does Uganda’s health system have the capacity to 28 treat COVID-19 Patients? CHIEF EDITOR: • Dr. Charles Wendo 30 A balanced diet means more life against COVID-19 COMPILED BY: Ministry of Science and Technology and PRESIDE partner • Cathy Muwumuza 23 to support COVID-19 Research and Innovation CREATIVE DESIGNER: What do COVID-19 Statistics mean? • Gilgal Media Arts 35 PUBLISHED BY: 37 Ask Doctor PRESIDE! The Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics Want to take a COVID-19 Test - Where do I go? (PRESIDE) 39 2 PRESIDE Magazine Volume 1, Nov. 2020 3 Dear Countrymen and women, have the honour to welcome you to the first issue of this quarterly PRESIDE magazine. It is a publication whose pages we have pervaded with exciting views and other Ieducative materials on the theme that was appropriately chosen given the current pandemic of COVID-19, but also cognizant of the International Science Day approaching on 10th November 2020, that will also be celebrated here in Uganda and you cannot wait to learn more about it. I know you are anxious to learn about the theme for this Editor in Chief issue; interestingly, it is COVID-19 in Uganda. Is science working? You should explore this in our exciting articles Dr. Charles Wendo well thought out by our own experts. [email protected] We bring you Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, the senior presidential advisor on epidemics (SPADE), who answers some of your questions every Saturday in The Saturday CPHL Ad Vision. In this issue, however, you have the chance to learn more about her works, including her vision for science in Uganda. The magazine has also been mellifluously packaged to bring you an extensive coverage of how Uganda successfully ran the COVID-19 race, subsequently getting recognized by Lancet among the best performing countries in the COVID-19 fight. Lastly, body immunity being crucial in resisting COVID-19, we bring you exciting and exhaustive information on how to boost your immunity through nutrition, but also where to go in case you would like to do a COVID-19 test in Uganda. You can only miss this if you must. Would you like to know more about PRESIDE? Read more and watch out for more releases moving forward. I remain your editor in chief. 4 PRESIDE Magazine Volume 1, Nov. 2020 5 MESSAGE From H.E. Yoweri K. Museveni We cannot Afford to Lag Behind in Science and Technology Again and technology again. We must cure the original sin of backwardness which contributed to our being dominated by other superior races and ravaged by nature. he major factor for the evolution of our With these unique capabilities, man was able to I am glad to note the great scientific awakening in Uganda in the various fields. This is a significant species, homo sapien, as the most dominant invent fire, agriculture, iron tools etc. Each of these achievement because we are beginning to see our scientists emerge with locally developed solutions to creatures on earth is that we developed the inventions significantly improved man’s quality of the challenges we face. Tcapacity to tame nature. This meant that finally, life and also enabled us to live longer. we were able to free ourselves from the oppression While other parts of the world continued to subdue This is the path that we must take and the NRM Government will continue to support our scientists of man by nature in the form of floods, drought, nature to serve their interests, the Africans remained to further research and product development. As the human race enters the 4th Industrial Revolution diseases, landslides, famine etc. Man’s uniqueness stagnant at the initial inventions of early man. We of Artificial revolution, let us not again make the terrible mistake of remaining mere spectators like lies in his ability to establish dominion over nature missed out on the first industrial revolution which our ancestors. through conscious actions. ushered the change from a reliance on muscle power to machine power. We were again spectators in the There are three special features which enabled us to second industrial revolution, which was the invention have meaningful impact on the environment. These of electricity. We also missed out on the third include: possession of a large brain, a hand that could industrial revolution which involved automation of hold and shape tools and bipedalism or walking on machines. Our failure to participate in these three Yoweri Kaguta Museveni two legs, which fact freed man’s head to think better industrial revolutions was a big disadvantage on our President of the Republic of Uganda and his eyes to see far. On account of these, man was part. It meant that we remained backward in terms of able to think of solutions to the problems he faced science and technology. and to make tools that could assist him to satisfy his needs. Therefore, we cannot afford to lag behind in science 6 PRESIDE Magazine Volume 1, Nov. 2020 7 will then attempt to show evidence of whether it is Strategic Level – Presidential, working or not. Prime Minister and Minister’s Over the past two decades Uganda has trained both Advisory Scientific Team locally and in foreign institutions and this has built The national response is coordinated by His a considerable human resource pool covering a wide Excellency, the President of Uganda, who chairs COVID-19: range of scientific expertise. Ugandan scientists have the National COVID-19 Task Force with overall participated in many research projects both here responsibility for the broad policy decision making. and internationally. Uganda is also well known for The agreed policies are presented to Cabinet for Is the Science her highly proficient epidemic response workforce debate and if passed, are adopted for implementation. which has prominently supported international The multi-sectoral operational coordination is done Working? epidemic response efforts whenever called upon. at Prime-ministers level. The president appointed a However, until this COVID-19 pandemic, many of Senior Presidential Advisor on Epidemics (SPADE) these experts, especially those embedded in academic who permanently works with him in collaboration institutions had not been called upon to actively with a team of experts to provide scientific advice Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza participate in the previous national epidemic control to that level of decision making. The SPADE also Senior Presidential Advisor Epidemics & Chair, efforts. supports Prime Ministerial level and other sectors in PRESIDE their decision making in the context of COVID -19. Why Science and Scientists? At sector level, the Minister of Health appointed the ganda’s ongoing battle with COVID-19, knowledge in the form of testable explanations and As COVID-19 spread from China and threatened Scientific Advisory Committee, consisting of a team has put an unusual limelight on her hitherto predictions about physical life. Therefore a scientist to reach every country in the world, it became of experts drawn from various institutions, chaired hidden scientists. Science and scientists have is an individual well versed with at least one branch apparent that each country would have to strongly by Professor Misaki Wayengera, from Makerere Ubeen repeatedly referred to by His Excellency the of science. rely on her indigenous scientific human capital to University, to advise into the multiple aspects of President during his national addresses. The Minister control the disease. Unlike the other recent severe the technical response. They undertake extensive of Health has often appeared with scientists besides Uganda’s COVID-19 response has been anchored but geographically restricted epidemics such as the synthesis of all information emerging from ongoing her while updating the public about COVID-19. in Science where all key decisions have been made Ebola in West Africa and DRC, where international research globally and thus ensuring that each and Scientists themselves have been quoted or appeared through critical scientific analyses by experts in agencies such as the World Health Organization every intervention is backed by scientific credibility in various media guiding the public about various multiple areas. Various aspects of science have would globally source experts to support affected to the best of available knowledge. Responsibilities issues related to the pandemic. In addition, during been applied to the designing of field interventions countries, for COVID-19 each and every country have included, recommending diagnostic tests, this period, His Excellency has repeatedly appealed (Epidemiology), diagnosis (Laboratory science), would need their experts. strategies for field containment, treatment protocols, for improvement of emoluments to scientists at the case management