50 final-year Nursing students from Nkumba University on Thursday, 28th April 2024 underwent data entry training conducted by Medical Officials from Wakiso and Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital as the district prepares for a 7-day Yellow Fever immunization drive.
The students were also taken through basic immunization Protocols and Procedures, Communication skills, and Community Engagement.
According to Medical officials, this was done to enhance workforce capacity for the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunization (UNEPI) ahead of the forthcoming mass yellow fever immunization campaign scheduled for 2nd to 8th April, 2024 in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono, at Government Health Facilities and designated outreach sites.
The 50 will now work alongside medical personnel from Entebbe Hospital and Katabi during the one-week yellow fever mass immunization in the areas of Entebbe and Katabi town council.
Mr. Francis Ssengendo, the Quality Assurance Director at Nkumba University, commended the Principal Institute of Nursing and Midwifery for spearheading this collaboration. He emphasized that such initiatives align with Nkumba University’s commitment to community service.
The campaign targets to immunize at least 95% of the illegible population aged between 1-60 years against Yellow Fever.
Ministry of Health says, “Yellow Fever Vaccine is safe, effective, and free.”
The National Expanded Programme on Immunization (NEPI) is a public health initiative aimed at providing comprehensive vaccination coverage to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases among the population.
NEPI typically encompasses various strategies such as routine immunization, supplementary immunization activities, outreach services, and surveillance to ensure that all individuals, especially children, are protected against diseases.
The program often involves collaboration between government health departments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and community health workers to achieve its objectives efficiently and effectively hence reducing morbidity, mortality, and the economic burden associated with vaccine-preventable diseases.
