5.7m kids to be immunised
Aug 23, 2006
THE Ministry of Health has launched a campaign against measles, polio and tetanus throughout the country after over six districts reported increasing cases of the killer diseases.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
THE Ministry of Health has launched a campaign against measles, polio and tetanus throughout the country after over six districts reported increasing cases of the killer diseases.
Primary healthcare state minister Dr. Emmanuel Otaala said in a statement on Tuesday that some districts in the north and eastern regions had reported several cases of the three killer diseases. The campaign targets to immunise 5.7 million children across the country.
“We have embarked on a mass measles campaign to control the diseases countrywide under the theme, ‘Stopping measles from coming back.’ During the campaign, children of six to 59 months will receive measles vaccine in all districts, children of zero to five years will receive oral polio vaccine in all districts while girls and women of child-bearing age will receive tetanus toxoid vaccine in nine districts,†he said at the ministry headquarters in Wandegeya.
A presentation from DFID under the theme, “Sustaining measles control and polio in Uganda’ revealed that there has been a sudden upsurge of measles cases reported in the country this year and a risk of importation of the polio virus.
“Though Uganda has remained polio-free since 1996, the risk of importation of the wild polio virus from neighbouring countries is very high. Wild polio virus has been reported in Sudan, DR Congo, Somalia and other countries nearby,†the presentation reads.
Dr. Issa Makumbi, who read the statement, said as a result of poor routine coverage, measles outbreaks had been reported in some districts, including Kampala, Wakiso, Pader, Kitgum, Bushenyi and Butaleja.
The campaign will cost $5.8m, contributed by the Government, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, DFID, SIDA, USAID, and Ireland Aid.
THE Ministry of Health has launched a campaign against measles, polio and tetanus throughout the country after over six districts reported increasing cases of the killer diseases.
Primary healthcare state minister Dr. Emmanuel Otaala said in a statement on Tuesday that some districts in the north and eastern regions had reported several cases of the three killer diseases. The campaign targets to immunise 5.7 million children across the country.
“We have embarked on a mass measles campaign to control the diseases countrywide under the theme, ‘Stopping measles from coming back.’ During the campaign, children of six to 59 months will receive measles vaccine in all districts, children of zero to five years will receive oral polio vaccine in all districts while girls and women of child-bearing age will receive tetanus toxoid vaccine in nine districts,†he said at the ministry headquarters in Wandegeya.
A presentation from DFID under the theme, “Sustaining measles control and polio in Uganda’ revealed that there has been a sudden upsurge of measles cases reported in the country this year and a risk of importation of the polio virus.
“Though Uganda has remained polio-free since 1996, the risk of importation of the wild polio virus from neighbouring countries is very high. Wild polio virus has been reported in Sudan, DR Congo, Somalia and other countries nearby,†the presentation reads.
Dr. Issa Makumbi, who read the statement, said as a result of poor routine coverage, measles outbreaks had been reported in some districts, including Kampala, Wakiso, Pader, Kitgum, Bushenyi and Butaleja.
The campaign will cost $5.8m, contributed by the Government, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, DFID, SIDA, USAID, and Ireland Aid.