Immunization dropped 20%, antenatal services 16% during lockdown

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT | The number of children accessing immunization services reduced by 20 percent during the months the country was under lockdown.

And in spite of the fact that thousands upon thousands of teenage girls started getting pregnant when their schools closed down, ante-natal visits fell by 16 percent instead of rising.

According to data from the health ministry, out-patient services in many hospitals around the country came to standstill with out-patient clinics being closed because the public transport system was shut down as a means to forestall the spread of COVID-19. During the lockdown, a general 14 percent drop in accessibility of services was noted.

Dr Charles Olaro, the director of clinical services at the ministry of health says many women were unable to access their first antenatal visit due to the lack of access and even lack of money.

According to the health ministry, Kwania district experienced the highest disruption with services dropping to 43 percent. Other districts that reported highest levels of disruptions in the country were Nakasongola, Luwero, Kyankwanzi and Kampala with 38 percent drop.

Now two months since the lockdown was eased, Dr Alfred Driwale, the programme manager of the Uganda National Expanded Programme (UNEPI) on Immunization says the numbers are back to normal.

“We are back to 93 percent immunization coverage because people can now move freely to go to hospitals and get their children immunized. Before,only those who know the importance of immunization endeavored to make sure their children got immunized,” Dr Driwale said.

According to a a survey released by the World Heath Organisation early this month, 105 countries in the world have reported a disruption in health service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings from the survey show that the most frequently disrupted areas of service delivery where routine immunization that faced a 70 percent disruption in services followed by non-communicable disease diagnosis and treatment at 69 percent. Family planning and contraception services reduced by 68 percent while treatment for mental health disorders and cancer diagnostics faced 61 and 55 percent disruptions respectively.

Dr Olaro says despite the disruption in service delivery, the health ministry is working towards making sure that there is continuity of health services.

“We do not want our health systems to come to stop because of COVID.  So we are working at making sure that COVID-19 treatment is mainly handled at Regional referrals while general hospitals, village health teams and health centers concentrate on providing everyday services,” he said.

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