Gov’t to sanction schools for sabotaging measles-rubella

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  The Education Ministry has said that it’s planning to deal with all teachers who sabotages the just concluded immunization campaign against, Measles, Rubella and Polio. 

The campaign that began on October 16, was supposed to give learners aged 15 and below a booster dose of measles and introduce the rubella vaccine into the country. But a number of targeted learners missed the drive after teachers allegedly connived with parents to keep them out of school.  

One school in Bushenyi district allegedly sent circulars advising parents who did not want their children to be immunized to keep them home during the days of the campaign.   

But Alex Kakooza, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports says they are considering disciplinary action against such schools. He says that the school administrators were supposed to encourage parents to take their children for immunization instead of giving them options.    

According to Kakooza, a warning letter cautioning the teacher has already been sent to the school through the District Education Officer.  The teacher once found guilty of interfering with a government program can be deregistered. 

The Education Ministry also criticized the action taken by two parents from Green Hill Academy to sue both the health ministry and the school for immunizing their children when they were already immunized.     

The immunization campaign concluded on Tuesday in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and Karamoja. According to the health ministry, more than 20 million children were immunized during the time.

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