KAMPALA- UGANDA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended Uganda for embracing the comprehensive global strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics (EYE), through deploying different programs including mass vaccination campaigns.
The message from WHO came at the official launch of the Second phase of Yellow Fever preventive vaccination campaign on 4th April, 2024 in Buikwe District, through Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam the WHO Representative to Uganda. The event was presided over by Uganda’s health minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng but also graced by health officials and local leaders.
The seven-day national campaign began two days ago and will continue until 8 April 2024 and through the exercise, the Ministry of Health is targeting to vaccinate 14.4 million people aged between 1 and 60 in 53 districts.
“I would like to congratulate the Ugandan government on the successful introduction of yellow fever vaccine into routine immunization from October 2022. This will increase the population’s immunity against yellow fever and eliminate yellow fever epidemics in Uganda.” Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemaria remarked.
At the event, health minister Dr. Ruth Aceng noted that Yellow Fever is a serious disease, and Uganda lies in the Yellow Fever belt, therefore the need to intensify efforts towards preventing spread of the Yellow Fever epidemic.
It should be noted that 27 African countries, including Uganda, have been classified as being at high risk of yellow fever. In sub-Saharan Africa, 90% of cases and deaths have been reported. In 2017, a coalition of partners, including Gavi, UNICEF and WHO, developed a comprehensive global strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics (EYE) by 2026. This strategy, called EYE is aimed to protect nearly One billion people from yellow fever in Africa and the Americas by 2026.
The EYE strategy has three strategic objectives: to protect populations at risk from yellow fever, to prevent the international spread of the disease and to contain epidemics rapidly. Since the launch of the EYE strategy, more than 226 million people have been protected against yellow fever.
According to the EYE recommendations, all countries at high risk of yellow fever should have introduced yellow fever vaccine into routine immunization by 2019 and completed preventive mass immunization campaigns by 2026.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is necessary to prevent the international spread of yellow fever, and this can be achieved through vaccination. The fight against yellow fever is based on the prevention of epidemics, and this objective can only be achieved if at least 80% of the eligible population is vaccinated in all high-risk and endemic areas.” Dr. Yonas noted before adding;
“We must ensure that everyone, especially those living in high-risk areas, is protected through increased mass preventive vaccination campaigns, including catch-up vaccinations; we must also reach every child through routine immunization programs and conduct regular risk assessments to identify areas still at risk of a yellow fever epidemic.”
“Finally, I would like to remind parents, care givers and all Ugandans that the yellow fever vaccine is safe, effective, and free. These vaccines have been approved by the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and WHO. One injection of yellow fever vaccine offers lifelong protection! And long-term immunity.
I wish you every success in the second phase of the yellow fever vaccination campaign” Dr. Yonas stated.
