Ibanda: herbalists, clerics rallied to support polio vaccination drive
Ibanda district health department has asked religious leaders, herbalists and traditional healers to render their support during the second round of the house-to-house mass polio vaccination campaign.
During a stakeholder engagement meeting with the herbalists, traditional healers and religious leaders at the department’s offices at Saza hill, Ibanda town on Thursday, Hope Katusiime, the Ibanda district assistant health officer said they intend to bring on board all stakeholders to ensure that the exercise is successful.
According to Jane Ruth Aceng, the minister for health, the second round of national house to house mass polio immunization drive is scheduled to run from 4th November to November 10th 2022.
Katusiime, revealed that in Ibanda district, a total of 57,800 children are targeted for immunization during this exercise.
The district has 606 villages and each will be handled by one health worker, a village health team (VHT) member and the LCI chairman. There are also five teams of medics on standby to come in, in case of any eventuality.
According to the health department records, the district recorded a 96.6% coverage level during the first round of mass polio vaccination that took place in January.
Fred Kwetegyereza, a herbalist from Kagongo Division, in Ibanda Municipality, lauded the health department for involving them in government programs, saying they are rarely engaged by many government agencies.
