Health Ministry in house-to-house polio immunization

Apr 02, 2016

The immunization started Friday and ends Sunday. Children under five years are all to be immunized

The ministry of health has embarked on a three-day house-to-house immunization campaign in 112 districts countrywide.

The immunization started Friday and ends Sunday. Children under five years are all to be immunized.

Immunized children are marked with ink on one of their fingers to avoid other health workers from immunizing them again.

Houses are as well marked to keep track and know the exact numbers of houses they have visited and children attended too.

 health worker immunizing a child against polio in itooro zone ateete a ampala suburb on 02042016 hoto by awrence ulondo A health worker immunizing a child against polio in Kitooro zone Nateete a Kampala suburb on 02/04/2016. Photo by Lawrence Mulondo.

 

The leader, Kitooro zone Village Health Team, Prossy Nalwaga, told the New Vision that parents are this time co-operating compared to previous times they have been caring out immunization exercises.

Nalwanga however adds that, "Although most of the parents are co-operating there are those that have prohibited us from immunizing their children."

She further said that they also extend the exercise to school on the first day where they immunized masses of children. She added that this helped them attend many children at once.



Aisha Namutebi an enrolled nurse and one of the immunizers said they are facing a problem of language barrier in communities as they meet different people including Somalis who cannot speak even English.

She added that most parents still have negative views on immunization and said there is need for the government to sensitize more communities on how important it is for one to have his or her own children immunized.

Tony Kawuma one of the parents in Kitooro zone in Nateete a Kampala suburb called on government to carry out such immunizations for a longer period of time to enable parents and children schedule for them.

He says this will help children who usually miss out on such programs also get them.

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