By Edward Byamukama
A five-day Measles and Rubella mass vaccination campaign has been launched in Kagadi District following an outbreak that has claimed the lives of five children.
The outbreak, which was reported in February this year, has affected more than 80 people in the district.
The vaccination exercise was launched on Thursday at Kagadi Model Primary School in Kagadi Town Council, Kagadi district.
Kagadi District Health Educator, Hajjat Aisha Justin Tumwebaze, says the campaign has started in schools and will run there for the first two days.
She has called on head teachers to support health workers during the exercise.
Tumwebaze has also rallied on cultural and religious leaders to mobilise parents and ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated.
She says 77 vaccination teams have now been deployed across the district to vaccinate about 77,000 children aged between nine months and five years.
The Kagadi District Education Officer, Beatrice Mbabazi, has called on parents and head teachers to cooperate with health workers during the exercise and ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated.
Meanwhile, Kagadi Resident District Commissioner Caroline Nanshemeza has warned against attempts to sabotage the vaccination campaign, saying those found interfering with the exercise will be arrested.
