Uganda’s Ministry of Health yesterday (4 October 2011) launched its latest round of fast-track initiatives aimed at reducing child mortality rates and improving maternal health in the country.
Health minister, Doctor Christine Ondoa, said the October 2011 round of Child Days will involve a number of activities such as immunization of under-five children against childhood immunizable diseases and immunization of girls and women of reproductive age (15-49 years) against Tetanus.
The scheme will also see Vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6-59 months, de-worming of children aged 1-14 years, and promotion of key family health care practices such as nutrition education, breast feeding, hygiene and sanitation.
Child Days Plus is a bi-annual event implemented during April and October. Dr Ondoa said every healthcare worker, including village health workers, teacher, journalist and citizen needs to be aware of the scheme and its benefits and support its implementation to improve health, reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.
During the official launch for this year’s October round, which took place at the Media Center in Kampala, Ondoa explained that Child Days Plus do not replace routine child health services but is a way to accelerate the delivery of life saving package for key child survival interventions, to reduce the high child morbidity and mortality in the country.
Treatment of neglected tropical diseases during the October round will also take place in the following districts: Gomba, Kayunga, Mityana, Mpigi, Bukudea, Pallisa, Dokolo, Buliisa, Kabale, Kamwenge, Kanungu and Kisoro.
Ondoa said: “Over the past few years our performance has declined in many districts and the country is faced with an imminent danger of disease outbreaks such as measles and polio, which we thought we had dealt with successfully.” She added that Vitamin A deficiency and levels of anaemia in the general population is “alarmingly high” and demanded urgent action.
She urged all stakeholders, development partners, health workers, Village Health Teams, media workers, parents and guardians and the general public to promote the October round of Child Days Plus activities in order to promote child survival and development.
Ondoa added that Child Days Plus service deliveries will be at the nearest health units, schools and usual routine immunization outreach posts across the country.