The National Medical Stores (NMS) is conducting a free Yellow Fever Vaccination exercise at Mayor’s Gardens in Katabi, Entebbe.
“Every Ugandan is encouraged to come and get vaccinated,” said NMS Senior Public Relations Officer, Sheila Nduhukire.
“Please come with your National Identity Card,” she emphasised.
The event, which ends on August 30, 2021, has attracted thousands of residents of Entebbe and nearby suburbs.
This media house, which visited Mayor’s Gardens on Thursday, witnessed security personnel and NMS staff guiding throngs of people to get vaccinated while observing Ministry of Health standard operating procedures to avoid spread of COVID-19.
Mothers turned up with their children to receive the yellow fever jab.
Soldiers, traders and medical personnel among others were also seen lining up for the vaccine.
“I have saved Shs 130,000 which I would have spent on buying the yellow fever vaccine,” said Aldrine Kentaro, 43, a mother of four.
“All my children have been vaccinated. I will always be eternally grateful to NMS for its kind works,” she said.
Nduhukire said the exercise was supposed to close on August 23.
“But we decided to extend it to August 30 due to high demand. We saw huge numbers which we didn’t anticipate,” she said.
“People have showed enthusiasm to receive the yellow fever vaccine.”
The exercise is benefiting Ugandan nationals from the age of 9 months to 59 years.
Nduhukire said this is part of NMS’ Corporate Social Responsibility.
“For a long time, NMS has always been running annual corporate Social Responsibility activities and we have always elected Yellow fever vaccination as our CSR flagship campaign. This one is not different from the one we previously run,” she emphasised.
In March 2021, NMS held a free yellow fever vaccination in Arua which management said was a token of its commitment to consistently contribute towards positive social development and better quality of life of Ugandans.
Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the fight against the novel Covid-19 are being observed in Entebbe.
Uganda is considered a high-risk country for Yellow fever by a comprehensive global strategy to Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE).
Immunization remains the main strategic approach to prevent, contain and eliminate Yellow fever outbreaks.
Currently, NMS provides the necessary medicines and other medical supplies including Personal Protective Equipment to Government Health Facilities and other institutions that are at the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 as advised by Ministry of Health.
NMS’ mandate is to procure, store and distribute Essential Medicines and Medical Supplies (EMHS) to Public Health Facilities.
The institution has been distributing COVID-19 vaccines across Uganda, supporting efforts to combat the deadly pandemic.