Soroti City and district have received a significant boost in their efforts to combat yellow fever, with authorities confirming the acquisition of a substantial funding worth 400 million shillings dedicated to a mass vaccination campaign.
Breaking down the allocation, officials disclosed that Soroti district will receive 332 million shillings, while the City has already secured 108 million shillings in preparation for the disease prevention drive scheduled to take place from April 2nd to 8th.
The vaccination campaign aims to target individuals aged between 1 and 60, as emphasized by Sister Constance Acanit, the City’s acting Supervisor for Maternal and Child Health. However, she expressed concerns over the adequacy of funds allocated to the city, given the magnitude of the task at hand.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health, Peter Pex Paak, the Soroti City Resident City Commissioner (RCC), urged the teams involved to demonstrate patriotism and professionalism throughout the vaccination exercise.
Yellow fever, a viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, poses a significant health risk. The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates vaccination as the most effective method of prevention.
Uganda, in collaboration with global partners and in alignment with the global strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics (EYE) by 2026, initiated a nationwide yellow fever vaccination program in October 2022.
The forthcoming mass vaccination campaign underscores the concerted efforts of authorities and health stakeholders to protect communities from the threat of yellow fever, prioritizing public health and well-being.