Measles vaccination kicks off

By Godfrey Ojore

MEASLES vaccination has kicked off well in Soroti district with officials commending the masses for the high turn up.

The countrywide exercise started at 8:00am in Soroti town with a march through the streets led by district leaders.

"We are hopeful to achieve 90 percent immunization of children in Soroti district. We have mobilized people both in towns and villages," said Dr. William Engulu the chairman of the Lions Club in Soroti.

Lions Club International is one of the partners with ministry of health towards immunizing children between 6 months to 5 years across the country.

Dr. Engulu explained that they have also rallied the Asian community for the exercise.

"We got some reports that the Asian community was against the exercise but we have met many of them and they are saying they are going to bring their children for immunization," Dr. Engulu said.

Mary Akiteng a nurse of Moru Apesur said the turn up was good because by midday over 100 children had been immunized.

The LC5 Soroti George Michael Egunyu urged people of Teso to embrace the program by sparing time to take the children for immunization.

"Parents should ensure that they bring the children below five years for vaccination before the program ends," Egunyu urged.

The exercise shall end on Monday next week.