Portrait of Janneth Amony aka Janneth Prischa
On Saturday, July 03, 2021, I returned to St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor for my COVID-19 result which sample was taken the day before. I intend to travel to my village in Lamwo District and to be sure that I am free of COVID-19, I had to take this test at all costs. To get COVID-19 test in Uganda is more difficult that getting the AstraZeneca jab. This time round, I carried my laptop with me thinking that I would work a little from the media center.
Upon returning to the media center from Lacor hospital, the first email message I got unread was from a colleague whose singer wife had just given birth to a bouncing baby girl mid last month.
It was dated Friday, July 02, 2021 at 3.34 pm local time. “Greetings from the team Rockstar Eductainment! For the ongoing social media buzz across Northern Uganda about singer Jenneth Prischa fighting for her life in the arms of Covid-19 at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor. She is stable and results confirmed she is indeed sick”.
This caused a storm among journalists with one Emmy Daniel Ojara posting; “Pat, what is your status? Some few days ago you were at NUMEC and went to Lacor Hospital with some journalists. I am trying to reach you but your phone is off. Kindly clarify so that we keep ourselves and our families healthy”.
This forced Pat Robert Larubi, who is the Communication Director at Ultimate Albinism Voice Magazine and at the same time the Business Development Manager at Rockstar Eductainment, PLC and who posted this arrival of their new born baby girl mid last month, to post this:
“Greeting from the team at Rockstar Edutainment!
For the ongoing social media buzz across Northern Uganda about singer Jenneth Prischa fighting for her life in the arms of COVID-19 at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor.
Yes, it’s unfortunate but we would like to inform all our fans, friends, families, supporters and followers of Jenneth Prischa that she is in a stable condition given the dedication, support and equal attention from the medical team to all patients at the facility.
Prischa started experiencing headache that went on and off, complained of chest pain and cough a week after giving birth to her little fond daughter Lizbeth. However, with continued intensity of her condition she opted for a PCR Test for COVID-19, Malaria and other related test on Monday 26th June 2021 but all results turned out Negative.
Due to difficulties in breathing, a suspected case of Pneumonia an infection that flames the air sack in both lungs causing cough, chill and difficulties in breathing was lumped in forcing her to look out for the service of a private medical consultant to help leap the journey. At Lacor, she had been given medication to ease the pain she was going through as she waited to make a return on Friday.
However, an earlier discovery on her samples submitted to MOH Laboratory for further investigation confirmation that she was positive prompting the family to call for her immediate admission at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor by around 11am yesterday.
In the storm of birth, the family is forging ways forward on how to cope up with the whole situation but above all how to take hold of the little baby.
This communication too serves to help Ugandan tackle the issues of COVID19 with a positive mindset. Observer the standard operational procedures – put on your Mask, Sanitize, wash your hand with soap, keep a distance from everyone and above all, stay home. COVID-19 is real and the second wave is firing on, while at home eat a lot of food rich in Vitamin C, exercise and if you have the opportunity get vaccinate that could be probably the cheapest option.
Who is Amony Jenneth aka Jenneth Prischa?
Prischa is a performing artist (singer), songwriter, fashion designer and co-founder of Rockstar Edutainment, a local talent and music promotion agency based in Gulu City.
Born and raised in Paluga Village, Lamwo District Northern Uganda says when the two-decade war in Northern Uganda ended; social development took over with music taking Centre stage in a land where it had completely gone quiet. Embracing music since it had always spoken the same language throughout the world, its resurrection in the North gave her a chance to share her message of hope and resilience to the once rattled people.
With budding talent, Prischa joined professional music in 2012 with her first single hit “Owek Tim Gero” crafted round the theme of preventing domestic violence in a region ravaged by war. The song fetched an award in a music competition organized by ‘Save the Children International’.
Barely a year into her music career (2013), this song was her breakthrough. It helped expose her to the world of music by recording more songs from the cash prize she had won besides being crowned the best Northern Uganda female artist 2013 and 2015 respectively at annual Northern Uganda Music Awards (NUMA).
Under her Rockstar Edutainment record label, Prischa has since released over 20 songs to her name with a mixed blend of Luo Folks, Dancehall, and now slowly switching to gospel tunes.
Her musical journey relates to her childhood days being in a school choir besides picking a big inspiration from her father, a great traditional music performer whom she says will leave one amazed when it comes to the royal Bwola dance. This kept her on her toes with a dream to emulate her father’s legacy of upholding to cultural performances besides working hard to remain relevant in the already flooded music industry”.
At least five medics had succumbed to Covid-19 in Gulu since the second wave hit Uganda last month and a senior media personality in the City did not escape either. Journalists are extra careful and more vigilant.
