Anthony Bugembe
14 May 2008
Kampala — WESTERN Uganda is still free from polio, two weeks after the disease broke out in the Congolese district of Rutschuru near Uganda's border, Dr. Sam Zaramba, the director general of health services has said.
The Health Ministry had urged residents of Kanungu, Kisoro, Rukungiri, Kabale, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Ntungamo, Mbarara and Bushenyi districts to be on the look-out following the confirmation of a polio case near the border.
This had raised the fear that the virus would spread to the country. Uganda has been free from the wild polio virus since 1996.
The Ministry of Health is mobilising funds for supplementary polio immunisation and surveillance in the nine districts that at a high risk of having polio cases.
Uganda has held several immunisation campaigns against the disease over the years.
"We urge everyone in these districts to take their children below five years to the nearest health unit for screening and vaccination against polio," said Zaramba in an interview on Tuesday.
He added that the free movement of people between the DR Congo and Uganda posed a big threat because no screening was being done.
He asked district authorities to support health officers in implementing preventive measures.
"Community leaders are urged to be on the look-out for children who develop fever and weakness in the limbs. They should report such cases to the nearest health centre for investigation and treatment," said Zaramba.
Dr. Issa Makumbi of the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunisation, said routine surveillance was going on in the risk districts.
"We shall launch a polio campaign in those districts in two weeks time. The campaign will also target other immunisable diseases for children under five years."
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