This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
On April 11, Uganda discharged its first three Covid-19 patients, who had been treated with hydroxychloroquine and erythromycin, according to a tweet by Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the director general of Health Services in the Ministry of Health.
President Yoweri Museveni has announced plans to deploy the treatment regime, despite warnings from the World Health Organisation, scientists, and top epidemiologists about the drug's potential side effects.
Uganda will initially import hydroxychloroquine from India before manufacturing it locally, with Cipla Quality Chemicals Ltd being the firm tasked with the production.
France and China have allowed the use of the drug in clinical trials, while in the US, it is being used as a treatment for Covid-19 patients.
Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has clarified that hydroxychloroquine is not a treatment but an immune modulator, which has the ability to stop the spread of the disease by stabilising red blood cells.
However, some experts have raised concerns about the safety of the drug, citing its potential to cause long-lasting effects like loss of sight if used improperly.
