In Uganda, vaccines are compared to precious gold — highly valuable, but also scarce

NBC followed a team bringing vaccine doses to remote regions of Uganda. This landlocked East African nation has only enough vaccines to protect just 1 percent of its population.

NBC News

By Christine Romo, Cynthia McFadden and Yuliya Talmazan
Dr. Eva Kabwongera says the country is struggling to finance deliveries to remote locations, such as Namatale. Photo: Christine Romo / NBC News

Dr. Eva Kabwongera’s job is to make sure life-saving Covid-19 vaccines reach Uganda’s 45 million people. On a recent morning, that journey took her to a tiny island that is home to less than 2,000 people. 

The 40 doses Kabwongera brought with her to Namatale had traveled more than 3,000 miles via plane, truck, ferry, and boat from Pune, India, to get to the outcrop in Africa’s vast Lake Victoria.

“We are delivering hope,” said Kabwongera, who is UNICEF’s immunization chief for Uganda, as she stepped into shallow water and walked to shore soaking wet. Dozens of small, smiling children greeted her. 

“The people there are waiting for it,” she added. 

Publish : 2021-05-16 18:33:00

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