The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), in collaboration with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, on October 4, launched the first of two mass polio immunization campaigns targeting 49 districts.

According to AFENET’s website, this campaign follows the declaration of a polio outbreak on June 1, after the poliovirus was detected in the Doko environmental sewerage system in Mbale City, Eastern Uganda. The campaign aims to vaccinate all children under five years old through a house-to-house strategy, ensuring comprehensive coverage.

Speaking on behalf of UN agencies at the campaign launch, Dr. Charles Njuguna, Acting WHO Representative to Uganda, praised Uganda’s robust surveillance system for detecting the virus.

 “Environmental surveillance is what helped us identify the virus. Once it’s detected in sewerage, we know it’s circulating in the population,” Dr. Njuguna explained. He highlighted the importance of high vaccination coverage, noting, “Each child vaccinated brings us closer to eradication.”

Representing the Ministry of Health, Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Health, expressed gratitude to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative for its financial support of the campaign. He also acknowledged key partners, including WHO Uganda, UNICEF Uganda, CDC, and AFENET, for their contributions to strengthening Uganda’s immunization services.

The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) is a not-for-profit networking and service alliance of FE(L)TPs, and other applied epidemiology training programs in Africa. Established in 2005, the organization is dedicated to improving the health outcomes of communities through collaboration with ministries of health, national, regional and international partners.