Two million children for polio immunisation

About 2.1 million children below the age of five are to be immunised against polio in a new mass campaign in 36 ‘high risk’ districts. The ‘door-to-door’ immunisation campaign worth sh8.8b is funded by the Government, UNICEF and Rotary International. Following the outbreak of polio in neighboring Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, health experts last month warned that Uganda risked a similar outbreak if nothing was done to prevent it. The three-day campaign, scheduled to kick off on September 21, will run in the districts mainly along the Uganda border with Kenya and Somalia. They include Amudat, Bududa, Bugiri, Buikwe, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Bundibugyo, Busia, Buvuma, and Iganga. Other districts include Isingiro, Jinja Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Kisoro, Kotido, Kween, Kyegegwa, and Kyenjojo. According to a statement from the ministry of health, Manafwa, Mayuge, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Namayingo, Napak, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Rubirizi, Rukungiri, Sironko, and Tororo districts will also benefit. “The campaign is intended to reach out...