Alur cultural leaders urged to embrace malaria vaccination campaign

By Ibrahim Adubango

Nebbi, (UG):- Cultural leaders in the Greater Nebbi Region have been urged to embrace the upcoming malaria vaccination campaign by the Ministry of Health slated for April 2025 come next month.

While speaking during an engagement meeting for cultural leaders on malaria vaccination and routine immunization recently at Satellite One conference hall in Nebbi Municipality in Nebbi district, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ronald Miria Ocaatre noted that as cultural leaders, it’s time to fully participate in the process of the Malaria vaccination program.’

“Since malaria vaccine is a critical tool in the fight against malaria, as cultural leaders there is a need to get set to embrace the government vaccination campaign by mobilizing their subject in the communities to endeavor that their children below one year starting at six to 18 months are vaccinated,” Dr Ocaatre said.

He noted that the introduction of the malaria vaccine into the routine immunization program by the government through the MOH that will help prevent severe malaria and death among fully vaccinated children with (four doses), is one of the key milestones that Uganda as a country has achieved in her effort to have malaria-free Uganda by 2030.

Ronald who also revealed that the malaria vaccine was safe, confirmed that the vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organization and has undergone rigorous testing in clinical trials involving over 800,000 children across multiple African countries, was also approved by the National Drug Authority as a ready to use malaria vaccine in the country.

The District Health Officer Nebbi Dr Okwairwoth Justine during the meeting admitted that Since malaria still remains a major public health concern accounting for significant morbidity and mortality, there’s a need to promote healthy living especially among children and pregnant women by prioritising all malaria interventions at the district at all levels through massive sensitization of the communities to know that malaria is a number one killer.

The Executive Director, Alur Kingdom, Mr Ochaya Orach Vincent during the meeting also noted that the malaria vaccination program had come in timely since the Alur community have been severely suffering from the cases of malaria.

He revealed that although there has been a great reduction in the number of malaria deaths in the Alur community, by bringing in the malaria vaccination program by the government through the Ministry of Health he believes this is a new innovation that Alur kingdom will fully embrace.

“As Alur cultural institution, we are ready to promote the uptake of the malaria vaccination exercise by mobilizing the Alur society to have a positive mindset in the uptake of the malaria vaccination exercise by the government through the ministry of health that is to kick start next month,” Ochaya said.

The Minister of Cultural and Legal Affairs Alur Kingdom Bob Opio Okech also during the meeting, added that “As Ker Alur Cultural Leaders, we shall use all traditional platforms which include funerals, meetings, and wedding ceremonies among others to discourage any negative publicity on health issues particularly the malaria vaccination which is a critical program for Alur kingdom.”

He further noted that as Alur kingdom, they will provide support to the malaria vaccination program by making sure that the cultural leaders pass the rightful communication about the malaria vaccination program in the communities for it to succeed.