The Ministry of Health has vaccinated more than two million children under five years in the first phase of its emergency polio vaccination exercise carried out in the 29 high risk districts of northern Uganda.

This comes as a response to the unexpected re-emergence of the virus in February, 13 years since the country last reported a polio case. Seven cases have been reported so far. Phase one, in which the ministry planned to vaccinate about 2.2million children, ended up exceeding that figure by about 130,000 children.

According to a report released last week, Amuru District had the highest coverage with all its eight sub-counties covered, while Moroto which had the least coverage had only three sub-counties of its 11 covered.

The exercise had 100% coverage of only 10 of 29 districts where all sub-counties were covered.

Carried out in partnership with World Health Organisation and UNICEF, the exercise will now focus on the second and third phases between April 25 -28; and May 23 -25, 2009 respectively.

Polio is acquired through drinking water or eating food contaminated with the polio virus (oral-faecal route). It's enhanced by poor sanitation and low immunisation coverage. Fever and sudden weakness in the legs and arms are some of the symptoms.

State Minister for Health (General Duties), Dr. Richard Nduhura, said while launching the vaccination campaign, that those trying to sabotage the exercise are irresponsible citizens.

"When government comes out to immunise our children, it's well intended," Nduhura said. "It's an act of treason for anybody to sabotage the immunisation exercise."

The minister was reacting to concerns that politicisation of the exercise has discouraged some parents from taking their children for immunisation. Such parents believe that the vaccine could harm their children.

"This of course is rubbish," Nduhura said. "Government can never have such an intention. It is very irresponsible of such people who call themselves leaders to demobilise a well intended exercise like this one."