For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Government launches Electronic Vaccine Data System ahead of vaccine roll-out, Ramaphosa to launch a private sector-led GBVF fund and, Uganda orders 18-million doses of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine

 

Government launches Electronic Vaccine Data System ahead of vaccine roll-out

Healthcare workers are encouraged to register on the Department of Health’s Electronic Vaccination Data System Self Enrolment Portal, as part of government’s phased approach to the vaccine roll-out.

More than 34 000 health workers have already registered on the system, which forms part of government’s plan to lay foundations for digital health information systems.

South Africa has received its first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines and will soon begin the process of vaccinating healthcare workers, as part of the country’s phased vaccination approach.

 

Ramaphosa to launch a private sector-led GBVF fund

President Cyril Ramaphosa will, on Thursday, launch a private sector-led, multi-sectoral Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Response Fund in a summit aimed at curbing gender-based violence.

The launch is expected to include civil society organisations and will support the implementation of the National Strategic Plan, and the wider response in the country.

The Presidency said the creation of the Private Sector Response Fund is a fulfilment of a resolution of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Declaration which followed the 2018 Summit.

 

Uganda orders 18-million doses of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine

Uganda has ordered 18-million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and up to 40% of the shipments are expected to arrive in the country by the end of March.

Uganda has so far reported over 39 000 Covid-19 cases and 325 deaths - a much lower toll than in most countries due to what experts attribute to years of experience battling other viral outbreaks such as HIV/AIDS and Ebola.

Its economy, however, is reeling from the impact of the measures put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The first doses will be used to vaccinate people aged 50 years and above, people with underlying health conditions, health workers, security personnel, teachers and other essential social service providers.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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