Govt earmarks sh12b for measles, polio, tetanus
Aug 29, 2006
The Ministry of Health has launched a campaign against measles, polio and tetanus estimated to cost $6,527,870 (sh12b). The Sustain Measles Control Programme is expected to last up to July next year.
By Esther Alalo
The Ministry of Health has launched a campaign against measles, polio and tetanus estimated to cost $6,527,870 (sh12b). The Sustain Measles Control Programme is expected to last up to July next year. The mass measles campaign aims at immunising 5.7 million children under five years by October. The campaign is being facilitated by Uganda National Immunisation Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Department For International Development (DFID), World Health Organisation, SIDA, United States Agency for International Development and Ireland aid. The immunisation is in phases and started with the districts of Acholi, Lango and Karamoja region this month. The rest of the country will be covered from October.
The vaccine was procured through UNICEF and distributed by the Ministry of Health. DFID provided about $1.1m (sh2.035m) for purchasing the vaccine which is combined with polio and tetanus vaccination, Vitamin A and de-worming as well as routine catch-up vaccines. This follows a sudden upsurge of measles in most districts, as reported by the DFID project memorandum which revealed that measles outbreak has been confirmed in all regions of Uganda except Karamoja. The report also said that Uganda, which has remained polio-free since 1996, was at a risk of importing wild poliovirus from the neighbouring countries like Sudan, the DR Congo and Somalia. More than 1,000 suspected cases of measles were reported in 2005, but out of the 500 laboratory tests, only six were confirmed to be measles and there was no death. However, the recent outbreak in Kampala, Wakiso, Pader, Kitgum, Bushenyi and Butaleja has left two deaths and measles wards have been re-opened.
The mass vaccination will be followed by a complete measles control strategy and polio preparedness plan in 2006/7. The key strategies include building on routine immunisation coverage in every district strategy and further strengthening of measles and polio surveillance through the integrated disease surveillance and response strategy.
Ends
The Ministry of Health has launched a campaign against measles, polio and tetanus estimated to cost $6,527,870 (sh12b). The Sustain Measles Control Programme is expected to last up to July next year. The mass measles campaign aims at immunising 5.7 million children under five years by October. The campaign is being facilitated by Uganda National Immunisation Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Department For International Development (DFID), World Health Organisation, SIDA, United States Agency for International Development and Ireland aid. The immunisation is in phases and started with the districts of Acholi, Lango and Karamoja region this month. The rest of the country will be covered from October.
The vaccine was procured through UNICEF and distributed by the Ministry of Health. DFID provided about $1.1m (sh2.035m) for purchasing the vaccine which is combined with polio and tetanus vaccination, Vitamin A and de-worming as well as routine catch-up vaccines. This follows a sudden upsurge of measles in most districts, as reported by the DFID project memorandum which revealed that measles outbreak has been confirmed in all regions of Uganda except Karamoja. The report also said that Uganda, which has remained polio-free since 1996, was at a risk of importing wild poliovirus from the neighbouring countries like Sudan, the DR Congo and Somalia. More than 1,000 suspected cases of measles were reported in 2005, but out of the 500 laboratory tests, only six were confirmed to be measles and there was no death. However, the recent outbreak in Kampala, Wakiso, Pader, Kitgum, Bushenyi and Butaleja has left two deaths and measles wards have been re-opened.
The mass vaccination will be followed by a complete measles control strategy and polio preparedness plan in 2006/7. The key strategies include building on routine immunisation coverage in every district strategy and further strengthening of measles and polio surveillance through the integrated disease surveillance and response strategy.
Ends