In partnership with Intra Health RHITES-E, a consortium of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has launched a door-to-door mop-up COVID-19 vaccination drive.
The drive targeting people aged 18 and above is supported by Family Health International (FHI 360) under the project dubbed Epidemic Control and achieving Targets (EPIC), covering all the villages across the 20 sub-counties in the district.
The campaign, which commenced on Monday, August 22nd, 2022, and is expected to last for a period of 10 days, is administering a single jab of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. At least 76 health teams have been deployed on the ground to help identify unvaccinated residents and those due for the second jab.
The ongoing drive was initiated in response to a report from the Ministry of Health, which indicated that the Budaka district didn’t meet the 70% target of COVID-19 vaccination during the third round conducted in June.
Hellen Wanyenze, the Assistant District Health Officer in Charge of Maternal Health, informed the district COVID-19 task force that Budaka was among the 14 districts that didn’t perform well during the third round of the COVID-19 vaccination.
She revealed that the district has several COVID-19 vaccine doses that need to be consumed before they expire. Wanyenze revealed that at least 68% of the people in the district have received two doses of the vaccine.
“The cold nature of the weather is most likely to increase COVID-19 cases in the district if people don’t observe the SOPs and as well get vaccinated,” Wanyenze said. Nasur Masaba, the Surveillance Focal Person, said that two people tested positive for coronavirus a fortnight ago and are under Home Based Care. He urged the community to continue observing the Standard Operating Procedures since COVID-19 is still in the communities.
Samuel Okurut, the district technical officer of the Family Health International 360 EPIC project, called for cooperation, teamwork, and coordination from all stakeholders in the utilisation of the 54,000 doses due to expire next month. He urged locals to be at home and receive the health workers who are carrying out the vaccination, stressing that there will not be any adjustments when the 10 days elapse.
He revealed that those between 12 and 17 years of age will be catered for in the fourth round. Emmanuel Pajje, the Pallisa District LC V Chairperson, tasked the partners and the entire district leadership to always involve councillors in government programmes for effective service delivery.
Ibrahim Mukamba, the Budaka Deputy Resident District Commisisoner, pledged support during the ongoing exercise and tasked other stakeholders to not only concentrate on COVID-19 but should rather improve the immunisation aspect.