Government, through the Ministry of Health has authorised Makerere University to conduct Coronovirus tests, making it the second institution after Uganda Virus Research Institute to carry out the tests in Uganda.
The development was communicated by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Makerere University Vice Chancellor.
“I congratulate Prof. Moses Joloba and his team upon getting Government approval to start testing for Coronavirus. This is testimony to the great capacity that has been built at our science laboratories. Now we can contribute even better to fighting COVID-19. Congratulations!” he tweeted.
Government authorised Makerere University Hospital to start testing for Coronavirus after receiving 40,000 COVID-19 testing kits through the University’s research collaboration with Case Western Reserve University in the United States.
Makerere University fight against Coronovirus was further supplemented by the purchase of four Epitents, an innovation of Makerere School of Public Health by Absa Uganda, items that were donated to the Ministry of Health to help fight COVID-19.
In 2016-2017, W.H.O listed the EpiTent among the WHO compendium of innovative health technologies for low-resource settings.
In a related development, Prof.Nawangwe also revealed that the University and Telecom giants are in talks to strike a deal that would enable students access learning materials on;ine at the time institutions of learning are closed.
“I have held a successful meeting with Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte CEO of MTN Uganda on opportunities for collaboration between Mak and MTN. The main focus was on creating way for students and staff to access our E-learning resources at zero rate. I thank Wim for this positive development,” Nawangwe said.
Woow that good for our might institution how I wish government continues giving such beautiful grounds to the institution. We shall see uganda prospering en joining the first class countries in as far as research is concerned