Teso Sub Region has recorded only 28 percent turn up in the ongoing mass Covid-19 vaccination that started on Monday.

The 7- day long activity was launched by the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng on Tuesday at Soroti Sports Ground. She noted that there was a very low turn for the vaccination exercise on the first day (Monday) across the sub region with 28.5 percent.

Dr. Aceng said that the daily target of vaccination in Teso is 157, 200 people but all the nine districts and city vaccinated only 44,828 people on Monday.

Kumi district registered the highest number of with 10,800 people followed by Bukedea, 9,245 and Katakwi 6,423. Kapelebyong vaccinated the least number, 141.

According to Dr. Aceng, they expect to vaccinate 1.1 million people in Teso within seven days to help reduce the rate COVID-19 infections in the region.

Teso is still an epicenter of COVID-19 infections with 35 admissions by Tuesday at the treatment centre in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative to Uganda, Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam challenged Teso leaders to vaccinate up to two million people to be on safer side.

Although cases of COVID-19 infections have reduced in Teso, the COVID-19 Treatment Unit at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital has the highest admissions of COVID-19 patients in the country. The unit has 35 patients in admission. Most of the patients are elders and the unvaccinated lot.

Last month, the health officials extended vaccination activities to social places like bars, places of worship and market areas but less than a quarter of the targeted population in the region has been vaccinated.

During the launch, district chairpersons, RDCs and other high-ranking officials were seen taking the jab for the first time even after being seen mobilizing communities for months for vaccination.

Nelson Elungat, the District Chairperson of Kumi said that he delayed to take the jab because he was assessing his health condition after contracting COVID-19,"After completing treatment, I was asked to take some time before getting the vaccine. But I have been mobilizing my communities to get the jabs because I know what it means to treat COVID-19", he said.

From Communication office Soroti DLG.
Abraham Ekwaru