Let me start by sharing my experience yesterday in search of a health facility which still had dozes of AstraZeneca in stock. Our journey started at the Uganda Virus Research Institute Clinic in Entebbe, where we were told the dozes were over. They are just waiting for new stock. When it will arrive, they did not know.
We asked at UVI where else in Entebbe we might find some. They directed us to Entebbe Hospital. At the gate of Entebbe Hospital we were told that the dozes were out of stock and the nearest we could try was either Kisubi Hospital or Mildmay Hospital. We drove on to Kisubi and to Mildmay. At their gates, we were told that the dozes were over and they were also waiting for more.
I took an executive decision and requested our driver to drive on into Kampala for I was determined to get the vaccine as soon as possible – I am the target age and my job puts me at high risk of contracting the virus.
We went directly to Kololo Independence Grounds, where the mass vaccination had taken place prior to the second lock down. There was no sign anything of the kind of vaccination activities was happening. It looked deserted.
At the gate of the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital
We moved on to Naguru to the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital where we met an extraordinary security guard. From his accent he sounded like he is originally from Bukonzo. From how he dressed and how he handled us in a professional manner, we were very impressed. I asked him if I could take a picture to share and he granted permission.
He directed us to KCCA Hospital and at first we branched into the KCCA local government offices in Naguru, from whence we were directed to Kiswa KCCA Hospital and it is there that we were well received and we got our first doze of the vaccine.
Our vehicle at Kiswa KCCA Hospital
Uganda is in lock down. Vehicles – public and private – are generally not allowed to move, except certain types of vehicles of the ‘privileged’. Yes, I am privileged to be the head of a nonprofit organisation and thus have access to that type of vehicle. Hence, I was able to chase down the vaccine.
I am sure you are beginning to appreciate the gist of the title of this post. Geo-politically, Uganda is among the less powerful countries who must wait for the powerful countries to first have all their citizens vaccinated before Uganda can have sufficient access to adequate dozes of the vaccines.
And the few dozes of the vaccines that come in-country, internal geopolitics, seemingly, is also determining who gets their shot first.
Well, let us wait and see.
“The Victorians romanticized the disease (tuberculosis) and the effects it caused in the gradual build to death. For decades, many beauty standards emulated or highlighted these effects. And as scientists gained greater understanding of the disease and how it was spread, the disease continued to keep its hold on fashion.”
Read more in Emily Mullin’s “How Tuberculosis shaped Victorian Fashion”
At Kiswa KCCA Hospital
What shall be the long lasting effects of the coronavirus on our cultural norms and practices? In which direction are we moving that is irreversible?
Humanist 
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