The Ministry of Health in Uganda has declared an outbreak of Polio virus in Mbale City and says it is likely to affect the surrounding districts due to cross border movement of people within the region.
In response, officials from the ministry with support from partners announced measures to contain the outbreak including rolling out the first round of house-to-house polio immunization campaign targeting children aged 5 years and bellow.
The first round will start on Thursday 3rd October to Sunday 6th October 2024 in 49 districts located in Busoga, Bugisu, Bukedi, Teso, Sebei and Karamoja regions.
During the house-to-house polio immunization campaign, health workers will visit homes, workplaces, schools , daycare centers, places of worship and other community gathering areas, and immunize all children under the aged five years and bellow.
The ministry together with partners including UNICEF and World Health Organization urges parents and members of the public to cooperate with health workers during the upcoming immunization campaigns, and give them access to their homes to vaccinate all the children aged 5 years and bellow against Polio.
It is important to note that this polio immunization campaign does not replace routine immunization and the vaccine used is safe, effective and free.