Ghana becomes the fifth in Africa and 31st in the world to approve the emergency use of the vaccine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports say.
ADVERTISEMENT
Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine approved for emergency use in Ghana
Russia’s sovereign wealth fund has announced Ghana’s approval of the country’s Sputnik V vaccine for use against COVID-19.
Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine approved for emergency use in Ghana
Recommended articles
The move by Ghana is a “positive example of vaccine cooperation between Russia and partners across the world to save lives and protect the population,” a statement from the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said.
“Ministry of Health of Ghana has thoroughly reviewed the data on safety and efficacy of Sputnik V also proven by publication in The Lancet and approved the use of the vaccine,” Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund added.
Countries that have already registered the vaccine are; Russia, Belarus, Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia, Algeria, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Hungary, UAE, Iran, Republic of Guinea, and Tunisia.
ADVERTISEMENT
The others are Armenia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Republika Srpska (entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bahrain, Montenegro, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Gabon and San Marino.
In other news, the King of Swaziland, a southern African country now called eSwatini, Mswati III is full of gratitude to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen for his contribution to his survival from the deadly Covid-19.
According to the King, Tsai Ing-wen sent antiviral medication to help him recover as soon as he heard that he got infected.
“I am grateful to the president of the Republic of China on Taiwan for sending through this medication to treat me,” he said, on the eSwatini government’s official Twitter account twitter.com/EswatiniGovern1.
ADVERTISEMENT
Reuters reported the King as saying he had tested positive “for a couple of days” in the first week of January but was now negative.
The news outlet further reported Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou as saying: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is gratified to hear of the eSwatini king’s successful recovery under the joint care of Taiwanese and eSwatini medical staff.”
eSwatini, an absolute monarchy is Taiwan’s only remaining diplomatic ally on the continent, and Taipei has provided large amounts of economic and other aid.
Mswati III said in a speech on Friday that his country could the antivirus that helped him to treat Covid-19 patients in the interim while they await the arrival of vaccines.
Although he didn't mention the name of the antivirus that helped him survive, Reuters report said the king could have been referring to Gilead Sciences Inc’s antiviral drug remdesivir, which was conditionally approved in Europe in July for treating COVID-19 in adults and adolescents with pneumonia requiring oxygen support.
ADVERTISEMENT
Remdesivir was approved provisionally by Taiwan last year.
eSwatini has recorded almost 17,000 infections of the coronavirus and 644 COVID-19 deaths.
Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini died in a South African hospital in December after testing positive for COVID-19.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
Trailblazing Prof. Jane Agyemang: The political powerhouse shaking up the NDC!
John Mahama can’t succeed me as President because I defeated him twice – Akufo-Addo
I won’t be a driver’s mate to John Mahama – Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyeman
‘Dumsor’ challenges will end in a few days – ECG Board Chairman assures Ghanaians
We’ll prosecute corrupt appointees under Akufo-Addo’s govt – Prof. Opoku-Agyeman
How First and Second Ladies rejected and refunded all allowances given to them since 2017
Russian Deputy Defence Minister, Ivanov detained for accepting large bribes
Vice President Dr. Bawumia meets Pope Francis in Rome
