New Vision journalists scoop awards

New Vision journalists scoop awards

By Mary Karugaba                               Pix by Mary Kansiime

Three Vision Group journalists have scooped health reporting awards for promoting immunization. The awards were given by the Ministry of Health for the year 2013/14.

Violet Nabatanzi, Agnes Kyotalengerire(New Vision) and Bossa Gonzaga of the sister local newspaper,  Bukedde, were selected by the ministry for their contribution towards the campaign that has seen the rate of immunization grow from 52% to over 97%.

Nabatanzi attributed her reward to her editors who have instilled writing skills and professionalism in her work.

“It is so gratifying to know that my hard work and efforts have been noticed and appreciated,” Nabatanzi said.

Handing over the awards to journalists at Silver Springs hotel on Wednesday, state minister for primary health care, Sarah Opendi, commended the media for the significant role it has played towards promoting immunization.

 “In 2012 our immunization coverage was at 52 percent, but when we started working with the media, we have been able to improve the statistics and currently we are at 97 percent,” Opendi said.

She further said that government wants all children in the Country to be fully immunized.

Other journalists who received awards include: Florence Naluyimba (NTV), Agatha Ayebazibwe (Daily Monitor), Diana Wanyana (KFM), Zahara Namuli (NBS) and Esther Nakazi.

The director general of health services, Dr.  Jane Aceng said since January, when the country stepped up effort to increase the coverage, immunization coverage has greatly improved even in districts that have in the past performed poorly.

“I want to thank the media for the tremendous work they did during the campaign. Stories of the campaign improved the rate that we are celebrating today,” she noted.

The future is even brighter; the government plans to introduce two more new vaccines-HPV and Rotar Virus into the routine immunization programme, Aceng said.

The HPV vaccine protects girls against cervical cancer which is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women while Rotar Virus protects children aged below one against diarrhea diseases.