13 October 2003
Nairobi — Plans are underway to go ahead with a mass measles immunisation campaign in northern Uganda, despite continued security concerns over rebel activities in the region.
Last week, representatives of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) expressed concern over continued attacks by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and urged the warring parties to cease all hostilities between 14 and 21 October to allow the campaign to go ahead.
It is hoped 12.7 million children throughout the country will be immunised during that period.
Dr Felix Kaducu, the medical superintendent at Gulu referral hospital in northern Uganda, told IRIN his department had made plans to carry out the immunisation campaign as planned.
He said military personnel and health workers were making last minute preparations ahead of the start date.
"We have no serious concerns with security," he told IRIN. "The issue is to mobilise health workers and security to boost delivery of services during the immunisation period. Given the contingency plans we have made, I think we should finish on time."
Ugandan army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza added that the exercise would be easy to conduct in the north since a large part of the population was living in camps which are already under military protection.
"Fortunately in the north, the majority of people are in the camps," he told IRIN. "Our strategy is to give as much security as possible so the children can be immunised."
Bantariza said the army would not only supply its trucks, but also security convoys to facilitate the campaign in the north. "Our job is to ensure that the health workers are safe and that they do their work without fear," he added.
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