Soroti teachers want COVID-19 vaccination extended nearer to them

Soroti, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  | Teachers in Arapai Sub County in Soroti District want the Government to establish COVID-19 vaccination points at Health Centre III nearer to them.

This comes after the Soroti District COVID-19 task force set up five vaccination points in the district and city. They include Soroti Regional Referral hospital, Tiriri Health Centre-IV, Gweri Health Centre III, Western Division Health Center III and Princess Diana Health Center IV.

The first phase of the free COVID-19 vaccination is targeting health workers, security personnel, teachers, humanitarian front-line workers and people above 50 years with underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart, kidney or liver disease among others. 

But Stephen Otim, the Chairperson of Arapai Sub County head teachers association, says that teachers find  it difficult to travel for more than ten kilometers to get the  COVID-19 jab because they are busy trying to cover the syllabus.

Otim, who doubles as the headteacher of Dakabela Primary School, notes that only one out of the ten teachers at his school has received the jab because Princess Diana H/C 4 is far away for them.

According to Otim, not more than 20 out of over 100 teachers in the sub county have received the COVID-19 jab. He also says that many elderly people cannot afford the transport to go to Princes Diana for the vaccination and wants the district to extend the service to Dakabela health center III.

Michael Akol Okole, the Arapai Sub County LC V councilor wonders why Gweri Health Center III received the vaccines living out Dakabela Health Center III.     

Dr. Charles Okadhi, the Soroti District Health Officer-DHO advises the targeted individuals to go to the nearest vaccination centers as they are still discussing how to extend the service to all health center IIIs.

Earlier this week, Dr. John Wilson Etolu, the Coordinator of COVID-19 in Teso region reported an increasing number of COVID-19 patients in the sub-region. He revealed that five patients are under intensive care at Soroti hospital treatment Centre while ten are receiving treatment in their homes.

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