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The Ministry of Health will target about 700,000 residents of Masaka, Rukungiri and Kalangala in a drive to step vaccination against Yellow Fever.
A free Yellow Fever vaccination exercise will be carried out in the country’s three most highly affected districts, with focus on all aged 6 months and above May 19th to 22nd 2016.
With support from GAVI fund, Ministry of Health has in store 714,579 doses worth 2.1 billion shillings. They are targeting 643,745 people.
Jane Aceng, Director General of Health Services, has in a statement revealed there are so far seven confirmed cases and 49 suspected cases of Yellow Fever in the three districts.
The National Task Force plans to carry out an epidemiological assessment to evaluate the magnitude of the danger posed and to identify high risk areas in the surrounding districts so that they are considered for vaccination.
Health officials in the affected areas have also confirmed that several facilities in the affected areas are also ready to provide the vaccination services like Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, Kebisoni Health Centre IV in Rukungiri and Kalangala Health Centre IV.
Outside the affected areas, there is Norvik Hospital, KCCA Clinic, Kazuri clinic in Kampala, and at Entebbe airport.
A Yellow Fever card is issued after vaccination, printed in English and French and details International Health regulations which Uganda has adopted.
A team from the ministry is moving across the country to accredit more health facilities to offer Yellow Fever vaccination as well as at the border points.
All travelers in and out of the country have been directed to undertake a Yellow Fever vaccination and attain the cards from accredited health facilities.
The Ministry, in its statement, has also advised the public to sleep under treated mosquito nets and encourage all travellers vaccinated against the disease to have with them a Yellow Fever card and also to report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility.
