Kyegegwa 12th October 2015: The Mass Measles Campaign was launched in Kyegegwa district at the Humura Primary School grounds under the theme ‘Uganda united against measles’. The key message to parents was to have their children immunized against the Vaccine Preventable Diseases (‘VPDs’).

Launching the campaign, Honorable Sarah Opendi, the Minister of State for Health in charge of primary health care called on parents to adhere to the immunization schedule provided to them at health centers. She further denounced the myth about vaccine safety, “vaccine development is a long and laborious process, which lasts for several years, it’s tested and once recommended and certified by the World Health Organization (WHO), then you know that it is safe for our population.”  Hon Opendi also said that this is the fourth measles follow up campaign which aims at reducing measles morbidity and mortality by 95 percent in 2015. At the same occasion, Hon. Opendi launched the supplementary Oral Polio Vaccine vaccination that targets at least 2.3 million children between 0-59 months in the 23 high risk districts.

In her speech, the Director General of Health services Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, mentioned that Kyegegwa was one of the nine worst hit districts with confirmed measles outbreaks, saying that out of the 14 cases reported, nine of those were confirmed measles cases. According to the Health Management Information system (HMIS) data, immunization coverage is variable and unstable in Kyegegwa district.

Between January and May 2014, immunization coverage was 250% in Kyegegwa district, but fell to 33% by September and 13% in October. Dr. Aceng called on Kyegegwa to improve on immunization coverage especially on the coverage of the pneumococcal vaccine and, and further said when the Rotavirus vaccine is introduced, the district leadership should ensure there is high coverage.

The Country Advisor Immunization and Vaccine Development (WHO), Dr. Andrew Bakainaga, represented the WHO Country representative at the launch and spoke on behalf of the UN family. Dr. Bakainaga said that the African region has, since 2011 moved from the control stage to the elimination stage. To this effect he called on the need to implement recommended strategies as outlined in the 2012-2020 Measles Rubella elimination strategy, so as to achieve the eliminations targets. He further stressed the fact that the vaccine is prequalified by WHO and thus safe for every child, hence none should miss out. 

Measles is a highly infectious vaccine preventable disease that manifests itself with fever, generalized skin rash lasting a minimum of 3 days, red eyes, red lips and sores in the mouth, cough and a runny nose.

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For more information, please contact:

Mwebembezi Edmond, Public Information Officer, Tel.: +256 414 335569 / +256 782 962674, Email: mwebembezie [at] who.int

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Below:

01. Hon. Sarah Opendi holds a child during the immunization against measles at the launch of the mass measles campaign

02. School children at the Launch of the measles and polio vaccines

03. Dr. Bakainaga (WHO) gives a media interview after the launch of the campaign