• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Kampala residents turn more to herbal remedies, home treatment to combat Covid-19- Twaweza report

Catherine Apolot by Catherine Apolot
4 years ago
in Health, News
2 0
ShareTweetSendShare

Kampala: The Ministry of Health and Twaweza are coming together to call on citizens to act on government guidelines around Covid-19 and not to rely on herbal and alternative remedies. The call comes amidst rising case numbers and fatalities in Uganda.

To understand citizen behaviours around Covid-19, Twaweza collected data from citizens in Kampala to understand their knowledge about and actions around the virus. The most recent data were collected from 807 residents of Kampala in December 2020 to January 2021.

At the beginning of the year, close to half of Kampala residents believed that: a person who shows no symptoms cannot spread Covid-19 (50%); that hot weather helps to prevent the spread of Covid-19 (46%); and that drinking ginger and lemon or other herbal drinks can cure Covid-19 (46%). A significant 1 out of 3 residents of Kampala thought that vitamins (36%) or alternative remedies such as steam inhalation (31%) cure Covid-19. After living with Covid-19 for almost a year, many Ugandans in Kampala were still significantly misinformed.

There is evidence that Kampala residents changed their behaviour around Covid-19 when comparing between December and June 2020. The most significant change comes in self-reported mask wearing: in December 2020, 9 out of 10 Kampala residents (88%) reported wearing a mask when outside the house compared to 7 out of 10 (72%) in June 2020. Other self-protection measures which Kampala residents reported doing more of in December compared to June are: avoiding public places or gatherings (26% report doing this in December compared to 13% in June); and using alternative remedies (up to 17% from 6%). Residents of Kampala also reported staying home except for essential trips much less (45% in June 2020 compared to 28% in December).

Similarly, when asked what they would do if they or a household member contracted Covid-19, residents of Kampala were more likely to say they would: visit a health facility (60% in June, 72% in December); self-quarantine at home (18% in June, 25% in December) and report to a regional health officer (from 0 to 17%). But they were much less likely to say they would call the Covid-19 hotline (58% named this as an option in June 2020 and 22% mentioned it in December). But Kampala residents also said they were more likely to self-treat with herbs (5% to 13%) or steam inhalation (2% to 6%) in December.

Violet Alinda, Twaweza Uganda Country Lead and Director of Voice and Participation, said “As the second wave hits Uganda hard, we hope these data can help inform messaging around Covid-19 to encourage citizens to listen to government guidelines and be wary of misinformation and false cures.”

Emmanuel Ainebyona, Senior Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Health said “We are calling on citizens to pay attention to government-endorsed, scientifically-verified & approved information. The main guidance around Covid-19 is simple and clear: Wear a mask, wash your hands, Avoid crowds, & social distance as much as possible. We are calling on all Ugandans to live by these preventive measures and to help spread the word.”


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
ShareTweetSendShare

Related Posts

News

Truth Revealed: Jinja City Council Clarifies On Shs4.2 Billion Return To Treasury 

10th July 2025 at 19:35
NUP leaders
News

NUP’s Pragmatic Pivot: Sending a Bipartisan Treasurer to IPOD

10th July 2025 at 19:29
News

New order growth spurs continued improvement in Ugandan business conditions in June

10th July 2025 at 19:22
Next Post
Orbit Laboratories in Mukono

Here’s a private clinic offering free Covid-19 testing in Mukono

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1126 shares
    Share 450 Tweet 282
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    50 shares
    Share 20 Tweet 13
  • Who is Bosco Muwonge, Uganda’s elusive real estate billionaire?

    37 shares
    Share 15 Tweet 9
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2289 shares
    Share 916 Tweet 572
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    48 shares
    Share 19 Tweet 12
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

Truth Revealed: Jinja City Council Clarifies On Shs4.2 Billion Return To Treasury 

10th July 2025 at 19:35
Mashable is a global, multi-platform media and entertainment company For more queries and news contact us on this Email: info@mashablepartners.com

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is the undisputed king of Kampala

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

Truth Revealed: Jinja City Council Clarifies On Shs4.2 Billion Return To Treasury 

10th July 2025 at 19:35
NUP leaders

NUP’s Pragmatic Pivot: Sending a Bipartisan Treasurer to IPOD

10th July 2025 at 19:29

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda