1.4 million children immunised against polio
Feb 17, 2009
ABOUT of 1.4 million children in 23 districts have been immunised against polio.
By Anthony Bugembe
ABOUT of 1.4 million children in 23 districts have been immunised against polio.
The two sub-national immunisation days were in the first week of February. The campaign targeted children below five years.
“Our target was to reach at least 80% of the children in the 25 risky districts. So far we have immunised 1.4 million children, which is 90% coverage,†said Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, the programme manager of the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (UNEPI).
Uganda has been free of the wild polio virus since 1996. In September last year, however, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed two cases of the virus in Southern Sudan and Kivu in the DR Congo.
Due to the free movement of people between Uganda, Congo and Sudan, there was a possibility of spreading it.
Mugyenyi said refugees in the bordering districts were also
immunised.
The sh800m campaign was carried out by the health ministry in partnership with WHO. It targeted Wakiso and Kampala, districts in the west, south western, West Nile and parts of the Acholi region.
The highest turn-up was in Amuru district where 54,990 children were immunised, representing 129% of the target. Other districts that surpassed the 100% target included Buliisa, Nebbi, Kabale, Isingiro, Koboko, Kitgum, Kibaale, Rukungiri, Gulu, Kanungu and Kabarole.
Kampala, Adjumani, Moyo and Wakiso failed to reach the 80% target.
“Adjumani (56%) and Moyo (43%) have problems with the population figures.
Wakiso (51%), Kampala and Mbarara delayed to access funds from the district accounts. Mugyenyi said the campaign in Mbarara and Kampala would be re-done in the weekend of February 21-22.
The next national campaign will be in April. All children will be given the measles vaccine, vitamin A and de-worming tablets. The second round of polio vaccination will also be given in 25 districts.
ABOUT of 1.4 million children in 23 districts have been immunised against polio.
The two sub-national immunisation days were in the first week of February. The campaign targeted children below five years.
“Our target was to reach at least 80% of the children in the 25 risky districts. So far we have immunised 1.4 million children, which is 90% coverage,†said Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, the programme manager of the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (UNEPI).
Uganda has been free of the wild polio virus since 1996. In September last year, however, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed two cases of the virus in Southern Sudan and Kivu in the DR Congo.
Due to the free movement of people between Uganda, Congo and Sudan, there was a possibility of spreading it.
Mugyenyi said refugees in the bordering districts were also
immunised.
The sh800m campaign was carried out by the health ministry in partnership with WHO. It targeted Wakiso and Kampala, districts in the west, south western, West Nile and parts of the Acholi region.
The highest turn-up was in Amuru district where 54,990 children were immunised, representing 129% of the target. Other districts that surpassed the 100% target included Buliisa, Nebbi, Kabale, Isingiro, Koboko, Kitgum, Kibaale, Rukungiri, Gulu, Kanungu and Kabarole.
Kampala, Adjumani, Moyo and Wakiso failed to reach the 80% target.
“Adjumani (56%) and Moyo (43%) have problems with the population figures.
Wakiso (51%), Kampala and Mbarara delayed to access funds from the district accounts. Mugyenyi said the campaign in Mbarara and Kampala would be re-done in the weekend of February 21-22.
The next national campaign will be in April. All children will be given the measles vaccine, vitamin A and de-worming tablets. The second round of polio vaccination will also be given in 25 districts.