Gov’t flags off immunization equipment to strengthen vaccine outreach nationwide
The equipment, procured through the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Equity Accelerator Fund with support from UNICEF Uganda, is expected to enhance the ability of health workers to reach children who have previously faced challenges accessing routine immunization services.
The Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng, has flagged off a consignment of operational equipment aimed at strengthening immunization services and improving outreach to underserved communities across Uganda.
The equipment, procured through the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Equity Accelerator Fund with support from UNICEF Uganda, is expected to enhance the ability of health workers to reach children who have previously faced challenges accessing routine immunization services.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Aceng said the initiative is part of the government’s continued effort to expand vaccine coverage and ensure that no child is left behind in the country’s immunization programmes.
“Gavi helps vaccinate half of the world’s children against deadly and debilitating diseases, and this support will significantly strengthen the capacity of our health workers to reach communities that are often hard to access,” she noted.
The equipment includes motorcycles to facilitate mobility for district health educators, portable camping tents, sleeping bags, raincoats, backpacks, umbrellas, gumboots, helmets, and lifejackets. These resources will support field teams conducting immunization outreach, supervision of health facilities, and follow-up of children who miss their scheduled vaccines.
According to the Ministry of Health Uganda, the motorcycles will specifically support District Health Educators in strengthening supervision of health facilities and tracking children who have missed vaccination appointments.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Diana Atwine, also announced the distribution of more than 1,000 solar-powered cold chain vaccine fridges and freezers to districts across the country.
Atwine said the equipment will improve vaccine storage and handling, particularly in remote health facilities where electricity supply remains unreliable.
The deployment of the cold chain equipment is expected to strengthen Uganda’s immunization infrastructure, ensuring that vaccines remain safe and effective while reaching communities in hard-to-reach areas.
Health officials say the combined support from Gavi and UNICEF will play a critical role in improving immunization coverage and protecting more children from vaccine-preventable diseases across Uganda.
