Mbale City leaders and health officials have officially kicked off a nationwide immunization drive against measles – rubella vaccination, warning that parents who hide their children or resist the exercise on religious or cultural grounds face immediate arrest and prosecution.
The campaign, launched on October 1, targets children aged between 9 months and 5 years. It runs from October 1 to October 6, with the first three days concentrated in schools before transitioning to communities for out-of-school children.
Speaking during the launch on Thursday at Nkonkojeru Primary School, Were Yahaya, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Mbale City Northern Division, adopted a stern stance against non-compliance.
“For those parents who won’t comply because of their cultural or religious beliefs, we shall arrest and charge you,” Yahaya warned. “Years ago, children were born with a lot of disabilities that we want to avoid in this generation. If we come to your home and you don’t have a blue card as evidence of immunization, you will be arrested.”
Mwishaka Moses, a public health officer from the Ministry of Health, explained that measles is a dangerous viral infection capable of causing severe long-term complications or death.
“Once a child suffers from measles, it can cause blindness, deafness, and difficulty in breathing,” Mwishaka warned. “That’s why we are immunizing. Parents, let’s cooperate and don’t miss this chance to protect our children.”
Mbale City Mayor Joyce Kaducu urged parents to embrace the free government initiative to safeguard their children’s future health.
“Such free immunization will help the child boost their health to grow better, because if they miss it, they will have health defects,” Kaducu said. “Once the health officials come to your communities, please present your child for the doses.”
City Health Officer Dr. Moses Mugonyi noted that the campaign comes in response to recent regional outbreaks that threaten child development.
“As a country, as stakeholders, we cannot sit back and wait for our children being devastated by a disease which can be prevented by a vaccination,” Dr. Mugonyi stated. He added that while treating complications can cost families immense financial strain, the preventative vaccine is being provided freely by the government and its partners.
Health teams are urging all caregivers to demand the service and ensure every eligible child receives their dose before the campaign concludes on October 6.