KAMPALA, UGANDA – In a concerted effort to eradicate polio and protect vulnerable children, the Rotary Club of Kisugu Victoria View launched a polio immunization campaign in the Kisugu-Namuwongo area. The campaign, which vaccinated over 200 children against polio, marks a significant step in Uganda’s ongoing fight to prevent the debilitating disease.
Ms. Goretti Masadde, the country chair for District 9214’s polio programs, highlighted the importance of immunization, stressing that polio has no cure but can be entirely prevented through vaccination. She explained the severe impact of polio, particularly on children under five years of age, who are most at risk of permanent paralysis from the disease. “Polio paralyzes and cripples, especially children under five. Once someone contracts it, it can’t be cured, but it can be prevented,” she said.
The campaign coincided with Polio Awareness Month, which culminates on World Polio Day every October. During the event, Masadde emphasized the global urgency of polio eradication. “Polio anywhere is polio everywhere,” she stated. “We must increase awareness and immunize children across the country to ensure that we eliminate the disease once and for all.”
Uganda has seen a resurgence of polio cases, particularly in its eastern region, where the virus was detected in the environment in recent months. This detection prompted a swift response, including door-to-door vaccination efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. Ms. Masadde praised the collaboration between Rotary and health authorities, noting that such collective efforts are essential in the fight against polio. “There has been a campaign ongoing in the eastern region, where surveillance confirmed the presence of polio, and door-to-door immunization efforts are taking place. This campaign here in Kisugu is part of that broader response,” she explained.
Rotary’s Role in Polio Eradication
The Rotary Club of Kisugu Victoria View, led by President Phoebe Kisibo, has been a long-time champion of polio eradication, partnering with organizations such as UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and ministries of health globally since 1985. During the event, Kisibo emphasized the club’s commitment to raising awareness and providing vital vaccines to communities in need.
“We are here today to celebrate World Polio Day, which falls on October 24, but we have chosen to bring it closer to the community in Kisugu. We want to celebrate with the mothers and the children below five years at Kisugu Health Center,” Kisibo said.
She also highlighted the urgency of the vaccination campaign in light of recent outbreaks. “The polio virus was spotted in Mbale in the eastern region of Uganda, and there is a house-to-house immunization campaign happening across the country. Today, we are here to bring that awareness to our community and encourage all mothers with children under five to take them to their nearest health center for the polio vaccine,” she urged.
Kisibo expressed gratitude for the government’s support in facilitating the campaign. “Today, we had a vaccine clinic at Kisugu Health Center III, and we aimed to vaccinate at least 200 children. We are very appreciative of the government’s collaboration with Rotary in these efforts,” she said.
Continued Commitment to Polio Eradication
Rotary’s commitment to polio eradication is unwavering, and Ms. Masadde appealed to all mothers and caregivers to continue spreading awareness and ensuring that children receive the necessary vaccines. “We have to continue immunizing our children to ensure that polio is forgotten forever on this earth,” she said.
Polio is a preventable disease, yet it continues to threaten the lives of children in Uganda, especially in regions where health services are under-resourced. Efforts like the Kisugu immunization campaign are crucial in reaching children who may otherwise miss out on life-saving vaccines. The Rotary Club’s involvement in this process is vital not only in vaccinating children but also in educating communities about the importance of immunization.
Broader National Efforts Against Polio
The Kisugu immunization campaign is part of Uganda’s wider efforts to tackle polio outbreaks across the country. Following the detection of the polio virus in Mbale, Uganda’s Ministry of Health launched mass polio immunization campaigns targeting districts across the country. These campaigns, aimed at vaccinating all children under five, involve house-to-house vaccination strategies to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.
The Ministry of Health has partnered with organizations such as the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to monitor and support the mass immunization campaigns. A team of field epidemiologists has been deployed to support the monitoring of the vaccination campaigns and to ensure their quality and effectiveness.
Monitoring and Supervision of Vaccination Campaigns
One of the critical aspects of the polio vaccination campaigns is ensuring that vaccines are properly managed, administered, and tracked. Dr. Kevin Mugenyi, part of the team overseeing the vaccination efforts in the Jinja region, explained the importance of supervision during the house-to-house vaccination process. He noted that every day began with meetings to plan and allocate resources to the right areas for supervision. In the evening, meetings were held to track progress and address challenges.
A key part of the supervision process involves managing vaccine stocks and ensuring that vaccines are properly stored and handled. Vaccines must be kept at specific temperatures to remain effective, and Dr. Mugenyi’s team monitored the cold chain throughout the campaign. They also ensured that vaccine accountability was maintained, with all vials counted and returned for proper documentation.
House marking, which helps to monitor the campaign’s reach, was also a crucial element of the effort. Properly marked houses ensure that the vaccination teams can accurately track which households have been reached and which children have received the vaccine.
Data Collection for Quality Assurance
To assess the effectiveness of the campaign and monitor the quality of the vaccination efforts, data was collected from various communities. Dr. Mugenyi’s team used technology, such as smartphones with the World Health Organization’s Open Data Kit (ODK), to gather data on vaccination coverage, information sources, and surveillance for potential polio cases. This data is essential for ensuring that the immunization campaigns are reaching their target populations and for identifying areas that may require additional attention.
Looking Forward: Continued Vigilance
As Uganda continues to fight against polio, Rotary Club officials and health authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and committed to immunizing children. Polio is a disease that can be eradicated, but only through sustained efforts and collaboration at all levels of society. The Kisugu Rotary Club’s immunization campaign is a vital part of this effort, helping to ensure that Uganda moves closer to a polio-free future.
In conclusion, the Rotary Club of Kisugu Victoria View’s initiative in Kisugu-Namuwongo is a significant milestone in Uganda’s fight against polio. With ongoing campaigns and continued community engagement, Uganda is making steady progress toward eradicating this debilitating disease. Through collaborative efforts between Rotary, health authorities, and local communities, Uganda is not only protecting its children but also contributing to the global effort to eradicate polio once and for all.
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