ENTEBBE: Over 20,000 Ugandans have received free Yellow Fever vaccination jabs in a two – week long Corporate Social Responsibility drive by the National Medical Stores (NMS) saving a total of Shs 2.6 billion.
Ms. Sheila Nduhukire said over 20,000 people have been vaccinated so far and expects more than this figure to be vaccinated by August 30.
Going by this figure, it means the NMS has saved 20,000 potential vaccine recipients from spending over Shs 2.6 billion on the costly jab.
Aldrine Kentaro, 43, has told the media in Entebbe Municipality this morning that the NMS (NMS) free Yellow Fever vaccination exercise has saved her some significant package change.
“I have saved Shs 130,000 which I would have spent on buying the yellow fever vaccine,” said Kentaro, also a mother of four.
She adds: “All my children have been vaccinated. I will always be eternally grateful to NMS for its kind works.
Indeed, in Entebbe alone, several media houses at the scene have witnessed security personnel and NMS staff guiding people to take their jabs while observing Ministry of Health standard operating procedures to avoid spread of COVID-19.
A Chimp Reports reporter says he witnessed mothers turned up with their children to receive the yellow fever jab. Others included soldiers, traders, artisans or Jua Kaali and medical personnel.
“Every Ugandan is encouraged to come and get vaccinated,” said NMS Senior Public Relations Officer, Sheila Nduhukire who is at the venue.
She emphasized that anybody who wishes to take the jab will do so free of charge.
“Please come with your National Identity Card,” she stressed.
MediaScape News understands that the exercise was supposed to close on August 23 but NMS decided to extend it to August 30 due to high enthusiasm from the public.
“People have shown enthusiasm to receive the yellow fever vaccine,” Ms Nduhukire reasoned.
She added that the exercise is benefiting Ugandan nationals from the age of 9 months to 59 years.
Why NMS Offered free Jabs
Ms Nduhukire said the free jabs are part of the NMS’ Corporate Social Responsibility and this particular activity wasn’t new in the NMS public engagement pack.
“For a long time, NMS has always been running annual corporate Social Responsibility activities and we have always elected Yellow fever vaccination as our CSR flagship campaign. This one is not different from the one we previously run,” said Nduhukire.
In March 2021, NMS held a free yellow fever vaccination in Arua which management said was a token of its commitment to consistently contribute towards positive social development and better quality of life of Ugandans.
Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the fight against the novel Covid-19 are being observed in Entebbe.
Yellow Fever in Uganda
Uganda is considered a high-risk country for Yellow fever by a comprehensive global strategy to Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE).
Immunization remains the main strategic approach to prevent, contain and eliminate Yellow fever outbreaks.
Currently, NMS provides the necessary medicines and other medical supplies including Personal Protective Equipment to Government Health Facilities and other institutions that are at the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 as advised by the Ministry of Health.
NMS’ mandate is to procure, store and distribute Essential Medicines and Medical Supplies (EMHS) to Public Health Facilities.
The institution has been distributing COVID-19 vaccines across Uganda, supporting efforts to combat the deadly pandemic.
How serious is Yellow Fever?
Yellow fever results in death for 20% to 50% of those who develop severe disease, according to mayoclinic.com. Complications during the toxic phase of a yellow fever infection include kidney and liver failure, jaundice, delirium, and coma.
Yellow fever is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. Symptoms take 3–6 days to develop and include fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches. About 15% of people who get yellow fever develop serious illness that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death.