A child being immunised recently. File photo
Kampala- The Ministry of health together with
the World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday launched a countrywide
house-to-house polio immunisation campaign of children below five years
of age with a promise to arrest whoever tries to sabottage.
According to the Ms Sarah Opendi, the State
minister for Primary healthcare, the move is aimed at preventing
children from the polio virus following cases being reported by the
neighbouring countries of South Sudan, Kenya Ethiopia and Somalia.
“You will recall that Uganda experienced outbreaks
of the polio virus in February 2009 and October 2010 imported from
South Sudan and Kenya respectively,” said Ms Opendi.
Ms Opendi added that Uganda remains at high risk
of importing the polio virus through the porous nature of her borders
which enables free movement of people amongst the countries.
“It is against this background therefore, that the
Ministry of Health, with the support from the WHO, United Nations
Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and other partners are conducting a
door-to-door Polio immunisation campaign,” said Opendi.
According to the ministry, the vaccination
campaign will take place on January, 17, 18 and 19. The vaccination
teams will comprise one health worker and Local Council (LC1) official
or Village Health Team member.
The campaign is targeting a total of 7.5million
children below five years of age in the 112 districts of the country at a
cost of Shs14.9 billion. The campaign is funded by WHO, UNICEF which
are handling social mobilisation whereas government of Uganda is
handling the coordination and implementation.
“During the exercise, all children under five
years of age whether previously immunised or not, will be given Oral
Polio Vaccine (OPV) drops in the mouth,” said Ms Opendi.
She, however, added the house-to-house exercise
does not replace the routine immunisation services provided at health
facilities and outreaches. All parents and guardians have been advised
to ensure all their children in the targeted age bracket are immunised
against polio.
The director general health services, Dr Ruth
Aceng warned that parents guardians who don’t take their children for
immunisation will be arrested.
“Parents and religious groups who have been campaigning against government programmes including immunisation will be arrested,” said Dr Aceng, adding that a lot of advocacy and communication messages on the campaign have been made over the various channels of communication.
“Parents and religious groups who have been campaigning against government programmes including immunisation will be arrested,” said Dr Aceng, adding that a lot of advocacy and communication messages on the campaign have been made over the various channels of communication.
The campaign
• The campaign will be carried out in two phases: The first phase will run from January 17 to 19 and February 21, 22 and 24
• Attention is to be given to the 41 border districts which have high risk with the second dose of trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine.
• The 41 districts have challenges of low performance in routine immunisation.
• The vaccination in the second phase from February 21, 22 and 24 will focus on border districts.
• Cost of the campaign: Shs14.9 billion
• Targeted Children: 7,506,231 in 112 districts .
• Attention is to be given to the 41 border districts which have high risk with the second dose of trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine.
• The 41 districts have challenges of low performance in routine immunisation.
• The vaccination in the second phase from February 21, 22 and 24 will focus on border districts.
• Cost of the campaign: Shs14.9 billion
• Targeted Children: 7,506,231 in 112 districts .
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