Ntungamo: The National Measles-Rubella and oral polio vaccine campaign has started well though it was characterized by some reports of delays because of lack of enough staff level in some parts of Ntungamo District.
The start was slated for 8.00am at all schools and other designated spots in communities but is some places, such as Ntungamo High School in the Municipality, the village health teams and nurses were yet to arrive at the school by 10am.
The president of the Lions Club of Ntungamo, Lion Rumanzi Perezi noted that absence of health officials to reach in time will fail the district to hit the target of 100 per cent because all children must be immunized by Friday this week.
Rumanzi noted that a health officer should at least administer 75 children per day in order to hit the target.
He asked government to make more preparations to have more than the target population immunized as more people are willing to get immunized
Nevertheless, apart from delays, pupils and students at Little Angles Primary School and Brilliant overwhelmed the number of health staff.
When contacted the Ntungamo district health officer, Dr Bakamuturaki Richard attributed some delays to low staff levels in the district.
Ntungamo district has 400 primary schools and 48 secondary schools and 43 per cent of children will be immunized in the district.
The Ministry of Health has planned to conduct a five day national wide Measles-Rubella (Kigutiya) and oral vaccination campaign targeting children from birth to under 15 years.
All children under five years will be receiving oral polio vaccine while those of nine months to under 15 years will receive Measles-Rubella vaccine.
The campaign which has started today Wednesday, October 16 will end on Sunday, October 20 across the country.
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