Covidex approved: UPC asks NDA to support other herbal drug manufactures

“This is the path Uganda should have taken a long time ago. UPC is on record demanding government to invest heavily in research and the approval of Covidex…”

Kampala 30, June 2021: Global focus is now on Uganda after her herbal drug, Covidex was approved by the country’s drugs regulator, National Drug Authority (NDA) for use in ‘suppressing’ Covid-19 virus.

After weeks of debates along with overwhelming testimonies from families whose loved ones battling Covid-19 used Covidex and recovered, it left NDA with no choice than to approve its use. On Tuesday, the NDA approved its use, to the utmost excitement of Ugandans.

Politically, Uganda Peoples Congress is appreciating the move by NDA. “We would like to appreciate the move by the National Drug Authority to approve Covidex for public use as a supplementary drug for viral infections.”

In the last few weeks, UPC adds, there have been testimonies by Ugandans citing the effectiveness of this drug in providing relief to the Covid -19 patients all over social media platforms.

“UPC applauds NDA and urges the authority to better equip and support other herbal drug manufactures to enable them to explore possibilities that can help in curbing the spread and prevention of this virus,” Arach Oyat Sharon, the party’ spokesperson, said in her press statement to media on Wednesday.

She added: “This is the path Uganda should have taken a long time ago. UPC is on record demanding government to invest heavily in research and the approval of Covidex has indicated that there is hope for a cure or even a preventive drug.This will reduce on the country’s dependency on vaccines from abroad.”

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UPC calls upon government and its concerning ministries to intervene in the regulation of prices for some of these drugs. “It has come to our attention that the Covidex drug was initially being sold between 3000-5000 Ugx before approval; however, as per yesterday price of this drug has been over hiked to 50, 000 shillings. In a season like this, we urge Ugandans to be patriotic and look at the greater good rather than individual interest. We urge all people in the country not to take advantage of the situation to milk gain illicit wealth from the already collapsing economy.”

Economic recovery funds

Uganda’s economy is undergoing an economic crisis that has far-reaching consequences for the whole country, says UPC, in a same statement released Wednesday.

“The financial and business sector is facing challenges and a case in point is the recent closure of businesses as a way to curb the spread of Covid-19. This means that people who borrow to finance their businesses and stake their properties as collateral are failing to pay back and the banks as well cannot recover the loans. This is a pointer to a slow economic growth.”

“Yesterday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved yet another 3.6 trillion shillings loan to Uganda. This money is intended to help a country in the economic recovery caused by the outbreak of the pandemic.”

“However, there is an increasing divide and disparities between the urban and rural areas with the incidence of poverty in rural areas much higher than in urban. The development has been skewed towards central and western Uganda, with Northern and Eastern Uganda left behind,” on behalf of the opposition party, Arach says.

She also said the Uganda Peoples Congress has watched these worrying economic trends, which has astronomical increases in the prices of food, medical services and other commodities with concern. “Production in our economy in terms of investments in agriculture and the health sector should be urgently looked at as a possible solution to this trend.”

With liberalization of our economy, UPC thinks “this effectively meant privatization of State enterprises, retrenchment of public servants leading to massive unemployment.”

“The Uganda Peoples Congress calls upon government to look into having a vibrant economy driven by cooperative movement and the cooperative bank specifically designed and owned by the cooperatives unions in order to mitigate the financial challenges now facing us.”

As Uganda Peoples Congress we believe that the strength of an economy is in the quality and quantity of its production of material goods, the quality and quantity of its workforce and how income derived from such production is distributed. “While free enterprises should be encouraged, free up and utilize the competitive energies of all productive people, there must be safeguards and regulations to ensure that competition does not turn in corrupt speculation and exploitation of workers and consumers.” This is the thrust of the UPC economic and social philosophy of which we urge government to borrow a leaf!

“The Uganda Peoples Congress calls upon government and the people of Uganda to examine the economic realities of our country and return to proper economic management away from excessive consumerism and unregulated credit that is bound to lead to economic ruin.”