Uganda to get new meningitis vaccine

Dec 15, 2010

UGANDA, like many countries in Africa, may soon procure the new vaccine that promises to rid the continent of meningitis.

By Conan Businge

UGANDA, like many countries in Africa, may soon procure the new vaccine that promises to rid the continent of meningitis.

The West African nation of Burkina Faso has already begun a nationwide campaign to introduce the new meningitis vaccine.

MenAfriVac, the first vaccine designed specifically for Africa is expected to help health workers eliminate meningococcal A epidemics in the 25 countries of the meningitis belt. The belt stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.

Dr. Asuman Lukwago, the health ministry’s acting permanent secretary, said Uganda was rarely hit by the most disastrous meningococcal A epidemics but said Uganda would also procure the vaccine for any eventualities.

“We always assess the threat before procuring any vaccine. However, we don’t often carry out routine vaccinations since meningitis attacks are not common in the country,” Lukwago said.

Priced at less than US$ 0.50 per dose, MenAfriVac is an affordable solution to one of the region’s biggest health problems.

Uganda was worst hit by meningitis in 2007 when the death toll in the West Nile region and Kotido district went up 110, and more 2,923 people got infected.

Schools, markets and disco halls were closed in the six affected districts of West-Nile, while churches were told to reduce the number of services in a bid to stem the spread of the disease.

Most affected districts were Arua and Maracha-Terego, which recorded 1,777 cases and 51 deaths. It was followed by Koboko which recorded 431 cases and 20 deaths, Yumbe recorded 300 cases and 14 deaths.

For more than 100 years, sub-Saharan Africa has suffered from epidemics that claim many lives. As many as 450 million people are at risk of catching the disease across Africa.

Major group A epidemics occur every 7-14 years and are particularly devastating to children and young adults. The most affected patients die within 24 to 48 hours on the onset of symptoms.,


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