3 Days of Free Yellow Fever Vaccination
National Medical Stores (NMS) is conducting free yellow fever vaccination starting September 27th to 29th 2017 . The 3 day exercise supported by the Ministry of Health and Mulago Hospital will take place at the Kololo Independent Grounds during the URA Taxpayers Appreciation Week.
NMS General Manager Moses Kamabare said they have partnered with the Ministry of Health and Mulago Hospital because together they share a common commitment to achieve the government target of attaining a middle income population. This can be done by improving public health.
He emphasised that while it is everyone’s right to receive medicines, it is also the responsibility of the public to achieve good health and prevent diseases. He therefore called upon everyone to come out for the free yellow fever vaccination noting that 75% of all diseases in Uganda are preventable.
“We are making the yellow fever vaccine free and more accessible for these 3 days because it is in line with our mandate to procure, store and distribute medicines down to the people who need them,” he added in a statement he issued from the NMS Head Office in Entebbe.
NMS’ promise Passionate about your life is the theme for the activity targeting 90,000 people between the age of 9 months and 59 years. The only requirement is a national ID presented at the NMS tent during the Taxpayers Appreciation.
For two consecutive years now (2016 and 2017), UNICEF has commended the National Medical Stores for its effective distribution of vaccines at national level during the annual Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) workshop for Eastern and Southern Africa. UNICEF has applauded NMS for ensuring an increase in Uganda’s immunization coverage from 52% to 97%, according to a UN assessment.
Kamabare says the recognition motivates NMS to aim at 100% immunization rate.