BUIKWE, 4th April 2024: The Ministry of Health (MOH) today officially launched the National Yellow Fever vaccination campaign, in which individuals aged 1 to 60 years will receive a vaccine against Yellow Fever virus.
The function held at Mehta Primary School in Lugazi Municipality was presided over by Health Minister, Jane Ruth Aceng but also graced by prominent leaders including Woman MP, Buikwe District, Hon. Mutasingwa, permanent secretary MOH Dr. Diana Atwine and WHO Country Representative among others.
Yellow Fever is a serious disease that spreads from one person to another by the bite of infected mosquitoes but can be prevented through vaccination, mosquito control and sleeping under insecticide treated bed nets. The type of mosquitoes that spread the yellow fever germ live in forests where they bite monkeys and chimpanzees and pick the yellow fever germ which they transmit to people; stagnant water and used containers such as empty bottles, cans and jerrycans around the homes can serve as breeding ground for these mosquitoes.
At the launch, Dr. Ruth Aceng said Uganda lies in the Yellow Fever belt and central to her ministry’s strategy is the Yellow Fever prevention mass campaign launched today. Speaking about the threat of Yellow Fever outbreak, Dr. Aceng said the recent cases in Buvuma, Buikwe, and Wakiso serve as reminders of urgent need for action to eliminate the Yellow Fever virus.
“I would like to remind you all that in Oct 2022, Uganda introduced the Yellow Fever vaccine into our routine immunization program and immunization is the cornerstone of our healthcare interventions..” Dr. Aceng remarked.
The 7-day vaccination campaign which kicked of on 2nd April 2024 and will go up to 8th April 2024, is the second phase of the MOH’s strategy to combat Yellow Fever disease in Uganda targeting the 14.4 million people aged 1-60 years living in 53 districts including Kampala, Masaka, Mbarara, Moroto and Soroti.
Dr. Aceng noted that the launch aims to create awareness about the need for the public to get vaccinated against Yellow Fever so that all persons aged 1-60 years are protected against the Yellow Fever disease.
MOH Director of Health services Dr. Henry Mwebesa reminded members of the public that Yellow fever is a serious disease and the most effective way of preventing yellow fever is by vaccination and mosquito control. He notes that people who have been vaccinated against yellow fever before should NOT go for another dose of yellow fever vaccine during this campaign because Yellow fever vaccine is a single dose and it is given to a person once in a lifetime.
For any reactions (AEFIs) that may follow yellow fever vaccination, Dr. Mwebesa said these should be reported immediately to the health worker at the nearest health facility for appropriate management and investigation.
“I request parents, guardians, community leaders, religious and cultural leaders, school-management committees, teachers, health workers, chiefs, civil society and private sector to support the vaccination exercise by mobilizing communities to get vaccinated against yellow fever during this campaign. I call upon you to look out for anybody who may present with signs such as rapid onset of fever, headache, general body weakness, muscle pain, loss of appetite and vomiting to report immediately to the health facility for medical attention because this could be Yellow Fever” Dr. Mwebesa noted.
He stated that the Yellow Fever vaccine, like other vaccines used in the immunization programme is SAFE, EFFECTIVE and FREE, and is available to all during this campaign at all government health facilities.
World Health Organization (WHO) country representative Dr Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, congratulate the Ugandan government on the successful introduction of yellow fever vaccine into routine immunization program since it will increase the population’s immunity against yellow fever and eliminate yellow fever epidemics in Uganda. He said it is necessary to prevent the international spread of yellow fever, and this can be achieved through vaccination.
Minister Aceng appealed to to all parents, guardians, religious and cultural leaders, teachers, private sector platers and local government leaders to rally behind the efforts geared at eliminating Yellow Fever out of Uganda as indicated in the Theme of this campaign: Ensuring that every eligible child and adult are vaccinated against Yellow Fever.
