BY JOEL KAGUTA
The Ministry of Health will today (Thursday) morning commence the vaccination exercise against eight preventable diseases in a bid to reduce child mortality in the Uganda.
According to the Ministry, the eight preventable diseases include Diphtheria, Haemophilus influenza type, Hepatitis B, Measles, Polio, Tetanus, Tuberculosis, and Whooping cough.
Mr. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health Public Relations Officer has indicated that that a number of districts are still performing slightly below the recommendable immunization target of above 95 percent.
Addressing journalists from the Rwenzori region yesterday at Kalya Courts in Fort-Portal City, Ainebyoona revealed that the country prepares toagainroll out the Malaria vaccine in a campaign codenamed the “Big Catch-Up” that starts tomorrow and will end on November 19.
The Catch-Up campaign targets children who missed any of the vaccines according to their recommendable schedules.
The children will first be screened by health workers to ascertain if there are any of them who missed vaccination, a reason why the parents should go with their vaccination cards.
Ainebyoona told the media engagement that was organized by the African Center for Media Excellence, World Health Organization and UNICEF with support from United States Agency for International Development-USAID that the country aims at reducing zero dose children and the risks of outbreaks of preventable diseases.
In Kasese, Agnes Mbambu, the District Health Educator explained that the exercise would be conducted at all the established vaccination posts and health centers across the district.
She also added that children above ten years would also be immunized against Human papillomavirus.
ENDS