Nicholas A
Nesterio Twesigye, the health educator in Ntungamo district, expressed that there are plans to conduct an extensive yellow fever vaccination campaign from April 2nd to 8th, 2024, to support the Ministry of Health’s efforts against the disease.
Yellow fever is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, Uganda has witnessed yellow fever outbreaks. In May 2019, for instance, the Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak in Masaka District, affecting children (with 4 cases and no deaths).
Twesigye highlighted that although reactive vaccination campaigns were carried out in central and southwestern districts, including Masaka, in 2016, there are still pockets of the population that remain unvaccinated.
Between May 2019 and February 2020, four more outbreaks occurred in separate districts, resulting in 9 cases and 6 deaths.
Twesigye affirmed that Ntungamo district is fully prepared for the vaccination drive, having already trained village health workers and ensured the availability of all necessary equipment.
He emphasized that the vaccination campaign targets Ugandans aged 1 to 60 years.
The training of Village Health Teams (VHTs) commenced on March 25, 2024, and concluded yesterday. Twesigye urged all LC 1 chairpersons to cooperate with health workers in guiding the vaccination efforts in their respective villages.
