Hundreds struggle to get free yellow fever vaccines

Hundreds continue to flock to Nelson Mandela stadium at Namboole in Wakiso for free yellow fever vaccines as National medical stores (NMS).

 

The vaccination exercise which started late last month (28th November) is aimed at helping over fifty thousand Ugandans who may not afford to pay sh100, 000 at Kampala Capital City Authority and other private health facilities.

 

Yellow fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans via an aedes mosquito bite or to humans from primate reservoir via a forest mosquito species. People who become ill usually present with acute onset of fever with at least abdominal pain, diarrhoea, headache, jaundice, unexplained bleeding.

 

Speaking in an interview at Nambole Stadium NMS's spokesperson Dan Kimosho said that ‘having realised that yellow fever is at high cost in health facilities we came up with this initiative to help people be vaccinated at no cost,'

 

He said in partnership with the ministry of health and Mulago hospital they have so far vaccinated 14,000 people. ‘We are trying to push the issue of prevention in whatever we are doing, let's not focus much on treatment. Everyone is talking about treatment but how much medicine can be enough for treating a sick person.

 

Can we undertake activities that will help people prevent diseases,' Kimosho noted

Late last year the Ministry of health reported an outbreak of yellow fever in Masaka and Bukomansimbi, Rukungiri districts among others.

 

Health experts say vaccination is considered to be the most important and effective measure against yellow fever.Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for people who are traveling to or living in areas at risk for yellow fever virus transmission.

 

Kimosho said babies above nine months and adults below 59 years are fit to get free yellow fever vaccines during this exercise.

 

Miria Wandawa a resident of Kisasi said this is a good initiative because getting a yellow fever vaccine is too expensive for some of us. My niece who is one year old has been vaccinated.

 

Victoria Namuddu commended government for offering free vaccines to people. The cost of vaccines is too high for low income earners.