For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: SA fails to make progress in Corruption Perceptions Index, first vaccine batch to arrive in SA on 1 February and, Uganda conducting clinical trials of possible drug against Covid-19 infections -statement

SA fails to make progress in Corruption Perceptions Index

Civil rights group Corruption Watch has pointed out that corruption has impacted the ability of countries around the world, including South Africa, to manage their health care responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

Recent statistics from the Corruption Perceptions Index reveals that South Africa has barely shifted its position, again coming in with a score of 44 and a rank of 69, alongside Bulgaria, Hungary, Jamaica, Romania and Tunisia.

CW executive director David Lewis says South Africa’s failure to move above the 50 point mark on the CPI for nearly ten years is a damning indictment of the extent of corruption and just how damaging it has been to the country.

First vaccine batch to arrive in SA on 1 February

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced that the flight carrying the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines will arrive at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport on Monday, 1 February.

Mkhize said the flight will leave Mumbai, via Dubai, on Sunday, 31 January.

Phase One of the vaccine will be delivered using work-based programmes, mobile teams and vaccination centres.

Doses for Phase Two and Phase Three of the vaccine will be delivered by a variety of platforms, including mobile clinics and vaccination centres.

Uganda conducting clinical trials of possible drug against Covid-19 infections -statement

Uganda is conducting clinical trials of a domestically developed drug to cure Covid-19 infections after nearly a year of research by Ugandan scientist.

Uganda has confirmed 39 188 Covid-19 cases and 318 deaths - a much lower toll than in most countries.

Experts attribute the East African country's relative success so far in curbing the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic to years of experience battling other viral outbreaks like HIV AIDS and Ebola.

Dr. Bruce Kirenga, head of the Makerere University Lung Institute, one of a number of Ugandan medical institutions involved in researching and developed the drug, said it would be administered orally.

He said It would not be able to prevent infections or contagion in the first place, unlike a vaccine.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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