Health workers will conduct measles vaccinations to reach every child from aged 9 to 47 months, and polio vaccinations for every child under the age of 5 years, regardless of their immunization history, in all health centres and immunization posts throughout Uganda.

UNICEF Representative in Uganda, Keith McKenzie, said that through both campaign and routine immunizations, every opportunity had to be taken to protect young children from these diseases. “Immunizing children is a national and, indeed, a global public good that benefits everyone,” he said. “This is not the time for complacency; this is a time to accelerate toward that good.”

WHO Representative in Uganda, Dr Joaquim Saweka, commended the government’s efforts in reducing measles cases and deaths over the past five years, but noted the threat of re-emergence of the disease and subsequent outbreaks unless high routine immunization coverage is sustained.

“The supplemental immunization activities provide an opportunity for reaching all target children, and all efforts have to be made to ensure that every targeted child is reached in this 2009 follow-up campaign” he said.

A news statement from UNCEF Uganda disclosed that WHO has supported the government to mobilize resources for the integrated campaign totaling $1.7 million which has been utilized primarily for district operations, engagement of civil societies in mobilization and strengthening of monitoring.

Technical support has also been provided to ensure implementation of a high quality campaign.

UNICEF is providing technical and financial support, to date spending approximately $2 million on the campaign, of which $1.7 million has been to procure vaccines and injection safety materials, and the remainder on raising public awareness among caregivers to have their children vaccinated. UNICEF staffs are also being deployed to assist in monitoring activities.

Although reported cases of measles in Uganda have declined by over 90%, due in part to the initiation of nationwide vaccination campaigns in 2003, measles continues to claim more lives of children than any other vaccine-preventable disease.

Uganda has been polio-free for the past 12 years; however, multiple outbreaks have been reported in northern Uganda this year, putting the country at risk for more outbreaks.

Measles is highly contagious and can rapidly spread among children who are not immunized. When measles does not kill, it can cause blindness, malnutrition, deafness or pneumonia.

Similarly, polio is a highly infectious and debilitating disease, mainly affecting children under five years of age. One in 200 infections leads to permanent paralysis, typically in the legs.