NEWS: Red Cross sets Shs800 million for polio immunization

Red Cross sets Shs800 million for polio immunization

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 from MONITOR ONLINE

Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has injected Shs800m in an immunization campaign against Polio and measles. The exercise, which will take place from April 25 to 27 and May 23-26 2009, is part of the supplementary national immunization days for polio set by the ministry of health.URCS is undertaking the new drive with the Ministry of Health. It will cover Kampala, Apac, Amolatar, Dokolo, Lira and Oyam. Others are Abim, Kaabomg, Kotido, Moroto and Nakapiripirit. Addressing journalists during the launch of the campaign in Kampala on Monday (April 20), the chairman of the Central Governing Board of URCS Mr Tom Buruku said the campaign aims at increasing social mobilization and access to health services to reduce mortality and morbidity from immunisatiobale diseases in the most affected communities,’’ he said.According to Mr Buruku, the districts selected to implement the campaign are among the 29 high risk districts identified by the ministry of health. “These districts have been selected based on their proximity to Amuru district which had a recent reported case of wild polio,’’ Mr Buruku said.He said over 1.2 million children are targeted to be immunized at the end of the campaign.Wild Polio outbreak was first reported in Amuru district in northern Uganda in February 2009 and to date, more than six cases have been confirmed.“Repeated immunization will ensure that children get full protection and stop the spread of Polio. Immunization will be conducted at different health centres throughout the country free of charge,’’ Mr Buruku explained.URCS General Secretary Mr Richard Nataka said over 8000 Red Cross trained volunteers have been deployed in the districts to implement the polio and measles campaign.“As an auxiliary body to government, URCS has been an implementing partner for the last two decades, contributing to some of the successes of the immunization programmes in this country,’’ Mr Nakata said.