BY ISAAC MUMBERE
The Ministry of Health in partnership with Kasese District Local Government has organized a three –day emergency vaccination exercise against measles in Nyamwamba Division of Kasese Municipality.
The emergency vaccination exercise follows three confirmed cases of measles out of 36 samples that were recently taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory in Kampala.
While addressing different stakeholders that had attended a District Taskforce Meeting held at the Kasese Municipal Mayor’s Boardroom, Mr. Stephen Bagonza, the acting District Health Officer, said the vaccination exercise that is expected to begin on Thursday February 22 and end on Sunday Feburary 25 Nyamwamba Division will also be extended to Kitswamba sub-county where some suspects are said to be staying.
He also requested the members of the Village Health Teams (VHTs) to work closely with the Local Council I Chairpersons of their respective areas in sensitizing the residents about the importance of the exercise.
According to Mr. Bagonza, the exercise targeting children less than 15 years will also be carried out in schools and some selected centres within the community.
Dr. Godfrey Kakumba Ssenyonjo, the Senior Medical Officer working with Vaccination and Immunization at the Ministry of Health, said they decided to come to Kasese after three children from the same family tested positive to measles.
He also noted that they resolved to vaccinate all the people below 15 years as opposed to five years because some people in the districts that neighbor Kasese have started showing some signs and symptoms of measles.
In his remarks, the Kasese Resident District Commissioner, Lt. Joe Walusimbi who chaired the meeting commended the Nongovernmental Organizations for their continued support to the district in case of any epidemic.
He, however, lashed at health officials and technical persons for their alleged failure to extended effective health services to the people even where they are supposed to receive them.
ENDS