Late vaccines mar measles campaign

Oct 15, 2003

LATE delivery of vaccines, low turn-up of children and the shortage of health workers were some of the factors that characterised the mass measles immunisation campaign in Kampala yesterday.

By Catherine Ntabadde

LATE delivery of vaccines, low turn-up of children and the shortage of health workers were some of the factors that characterised the mass measles immunisation campaign in Kampala yesterday.

The 556 immunisation centres, which include schools, health and social centres in Kampala, were not able to immunise children in time.

By 11:00pm most of the centres, especially schools had not embarked on the exercise which is targeting children aged six months to 15 years, due to the late delivery of vaccines and equipment like cotton wool, syringes, scissors and ice packs.

Kampala mayor John Ssebaana Kizito launched the city campaign and said the first two days were dedicated to schools since 70% of the targeted children are in schools.
However, by 2:00pm, Makindye, Nakawa and Rubaga divisions were still disbursing vaccines and equipment.

City health secretary Francis Lubowa said the district received most of the vaccines and treatment at 8:00pm on Tuesday. He said most vaccines were disbursed to the five divisions in the morning.

“We accessed vaccines from Entebbe, started distributing them immediately, but time was not enough and more distribution had to be done this morning,” Lubowa said.

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