Uganda\nis set to immunize more than 18 million children against measles and rubella,\nwhich amounts to 43% of the country’s population. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among\nthem, 8.2 million children younger than 9 months, or 20.5% of the population,\nwill also receive the oral polio vaccine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uganda\nhas experienced measles outbreaks across numerous districts in the past three\nyears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At\nthe same time, polio remains a daunting threat, given evidence of vaccine deriven\nstrains circulating in neighbouring countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nfive-day mass immunization campaign, funded by the Government of Uganda; GAVI,\nthe Vaccine Alliance; the Unit. Nations Children’s Fund; and the World Health\nOrganization (WHO); intends to tackle three public health challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\ncampaign, to be conducted in schools for the first three days and in\ncommunities for the last two days, targets all children younger than 15 years,\nwhether previously immunized or not, in order to interrupt circulation of these\ndiseases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\ncampaign will be a launch pad to introduce the measles-rubella vaccine into the\ncountry’s routine immunization schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis\ncampaign does not replace the routine immunization schedule. Parents, caregivers\nand all concerned must ensure that all children receive and complete all the\nvaccines specified on our immunization schedule after the campaign,\u201d said Dr\nJane Ruth Aceng, Uganda Minister of health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nmass campaign provides opportunity to intensify sensitization of communities on\nmeasles, rubella and polio as well as disease surveillance and to investigate\nany unreported but suspected cases of these diseases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This\nis particularly important because of the declining trend in routine\nimmunization coverage in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis\nis an extremely important exercise,\u201d said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional\nDirector for Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\nrepresents an impressive level of commitment to health care that we need more\nthan ever across the African Region to prevent deaths, disease and suffering\nand to avoid unnecessary expenditure when caring for people who are sick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nGovernment of Uganda acknowledges the importance of immunization against\nvarious diseases to attain Sustainable Development Goal 3, which underlines the\nneed for good health and well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We\nappeal to all parents, caregivers and guardians to take your children younger\nthan 15 years for immunization against measles, rubella and polio during this\nmass exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nMinistry of Health has approved the vaccines to be used, and they are safe,\nfree and effective,” said Dr Yonas WHO Representative in Uganda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During\nthe campaign, teams of health workers will set up vaccination service delivery\npoints across the country, with the objective of attaining more than 35%\nimmunization coverage, which is needed to interrupt the transmission of Measles,\nRubella and Polio. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Uganda is set to immunize more than 18 million children against measles and rubella, which amounts to 43% of the country’s population. Among them, 8.2 million children younger than 9 months, or 20.5% of the population, will also receive the oral polio vaccine. Uganda has experienced measles outbreaks across numerous districts in the past three […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27983,"featured_media":11668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[467,98],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n