Locals embrace meningitis immunization exercise in Hoima

Courtesy Photo

The first day of the mass immunization campaign against meningitis has registered a high turnout in Hoima district, officials have said.

Dr. Joseph Ruyonga, the Hoima district health officer, on Thursday told New Vision that the exercise started well and people had as early as 8am already started queuing to get vaccinated.

At the DHO's clinic a few metres from the kings palace (Karuziika), in Hoima town by 12:00pm, there was a long line of people waiting while others arrived in big numbers.

Ruyonga attributed the high turnout to the mass sensitization conducted before the kickoff of the exercise. He said they dispatched immunization kits to hard-to-reach areas the previous day to avoid delays.

"We have enough vaccines that can take us the entire exercise and we expect no delays since we have prepared enough" Ruyonga said adding that they expect to hit the 100% target.

Andrew Bakainaga, the World Health Organisation country director who is in the area to oversee the exercise said the first day in Hoima had been promising, adding that if all goes as it has started, they hoped to get their target coverage of 95% by the end of the exercise.

A nurse at the DHO's clinic who preferred anonymity said by press time they had vaccinated close to 800 children and adults.