Health ministry welcomes immunisation fund board
Sep 25, 2018
The board is composed of a chairperson and nine members from various government organisations and professions.
HEALTH
The health minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, has appointed a new team to run the immunisation funds.
The board is composed of a chairperson and nine members from various government organisations and professions.
"History was made today when I inaugurated the first ever Immunisation fund board and immunisation co-ordination committee.
This will ensure that every dollar is accounted for and that all our children below five years and adolescent girls are immunised. Congratulations to all the members," said Aceng.
The board will be chaired by Dr. Diana Atwine, the health ministry permanent secretary.
Newly appointed members to the board include: Paul Okware, from National Medical Stores, Aggrey David Kibenge, ministry of Education, Dr Viorica Berdaga, United Nations Children's Fund, Julius Mukunda, Civil society, Balaam Assimwe, Local government, Robinah Lukwago, The Department for International Development, John Mpuunju, Private Sector, Paul Patrick Mwanja, Ministry of Finance and Andrew Bakainaga from WHO.
The World Health Organization (WHO) while launching the Business Case for WHO Immunisation Activities on the African Continent 2018-2030, acknowledged that while Africa has made tremendous progress in improving access to immunisation, most countries are off track to achieving the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) target of 90% national immunisation coverage by 2020.
This is because one in five African children still lack access to all the WHO recommended life-saving vaccines, which is a threat not only to the health of families, but also to the strength of economies and equity in African societies.
According to WHO, every year, more than 30 million children under-five fall sick due to vaccine-preventable diseases, and of these, over half a million die.
Deaths due to vaccine-preventable diseases account for 58% of global deaths. Such diseases also impose an economic burden of $13b every year - funding that could be used to fuel the economy and drive development.