Africa-Press – Uganda. Rukungiri and the neighbouring Kanungu as well as Kasese and Buikwe districts have, relative to their total populations, administered more vaccines in the country. In absolute numbers, Kampala, however, tops with 31,012 immunisations.
A leaked Ministry of Health statistics report as at April 13 shows that the capital, Wakiso and Mukono, which constitute Uganda’s most populated metropolis, and Tororo, Hoima, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara and Buikwe districts have inoculated the majority people.
On the other hand, Serere, Nakapiripirit, Amudat, Bukwo, Sironko – all in eastern and north-eastern regions – alongside Amolatar in geographical north, Buvuma in central and Kibaale in mid-western Uganda are the worst performing in the national Covid-vaccine uptake.
Uganda, which, according to the Health ministry, has so far registered 338 deaths out of 40,000-plus Coronavirus cases began vaccination on March 10 after receiving 864,000 Oxford- AstraZeneca doses of through Covax – the facility set up by World Health Organisation to enable poorer nations access Covid vaccines.
India donated an additional 100,000 doses, placing Uganda on course to inoculate at least 482,000 its citizens since each person must receive two doses for the vaccine to offer a better boost against the pandemic.
A woman receives a Covid-19 jab during the launch of the mass vaccination at Mulago Women’s Specialised Hospital on March 10.
PHOTO/ KELVIN ATUHAIRE
Overall, the government plans to vaccine 21.9 million of its estimated 44 million citizens in order to achieve heard immunity and limited vaccines mean the target is miles ahead of the country’s actual capacity.
In a televised address on Friday, President Museveni said the government would reopen officially closed bars and permit concerts only if more than 5 million Ugandans are vaccinated, which means the country would require to stock at least 10 million doses.The limited access to the jabs prompted the government to ration the vaccines, giving priority to frontline actors such as health workers, security forces and teachers as well as high-vulnerability populations such as the elderly.
However, rather than a rush for the vaccines, official statistics show that many of the targeted first-line recipients are shunning the jabs.For instance, Uganda Prisons Services is the best performing among security forces, with nearly nine out 10 of the vaccines given to it administered to its personnel inoculated. They are followed by the army that have administered 75 per cent of the 70,000 jabs they received while police have used only 34 per cent of the 20,000 doses it received.
The statistics show that staff of Local Governments are the worst, with only 156,500 (26 per cent) of the 603,520 doses used.Our analysis shows that just one in every five health workers registered to take the vaccine has received the jab.
By comparison, teachers have performed better, with 8,517 of the 13,172 (65 per cent) registered having taken the shot by Tuesday, last week.Dr Alfred Driwale, the head of immunisation programme at the ministry, blamed the low uptake of the vaccines on weak leadership and limited resources for community sensitisation.
“Vaccination is district-led and all districts have received Covid-19 vaccine doses. Our problem is at the district level. The district leaders are not taking action to make sure people take jabs, but our interest [as Ministry of Health] is the output,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Graph: How districts, security forces rank on jab-take.
List of how districts performed on Covid vaccination (In descending order)
District
Vaccinated
Kampala 31012Rukungiri 4870Tororo 4405Kanungu 3934Mukono 3732Hoima 3441Wakiso 3169Kasese 2632Jinja 2542Masaka 2539Mbarara 2521Buikwe 2391Busia 1895Lira 1789Zombo 1761Bushenyi 1697Gulu 1629Iganga 1512Mityana 1485Pakwach 1457Arua 1345Kabale 1299Kalungu 1239Nakasongola 1198Kumi 1187Butaleja 1138Isingiro 1133Kyotera 1058Mubende 1058Mbale 1057Yumbe 998Katakwi 975Ntungamo 975Namisindwa 973Rakai 926Ibanda 925Budaka 904Rubanda 859Kisoro 843Bududa 828Kayunga 814Bukomansimbi 808Lwengo 804Kabarole 777Soroti 740Bukedea 662Bundibugyo 650Kamwenge 615Kitagwenda 594Pallisa 592Rwampara 589Kaliro 581Masindi 530Terego 526Nebbi 525Kiboga 491Mitooma 489Bugweri 472Kakumiro 466Kotido 461Koboko 458Buhweju 452Butebo 437Luuka 430Mayuge 430Apac 413Adjumani 412Rubirizi 408Kalangala 407Maracha 407Bugiri 399Lyantonde 392Kiryandongo 387Madi-Okollo 384Kitgum 378Bulambuli 363Luwero 342Lamwo 339Amuria 307Kaabong 304Mpigi 299Oyam 297Kyenjojo 296Dokolo 289Abim 285Moyo 283Sheema 280Kikuube 274Bunyangabu 270Kwania 269Namutumba 258Kibuku 239Napak 232Kiruhura 230Moroto 228Agago 225Kween 217Obongi 216Manafwa 215Kole 210Kalaki 206Kyegegwa 205Rukiga 203Sembabule 202Kapchorwa 188Gomba 187Ntoroko 186Kapelebyong 180Alebtong 166Butambala 165Buliisa 149Nakaseke 148Namayingo 147Pader 145Kamuli 142Omoro 140Kazo 136Kagadi 118Kassanda 118Kyankwanzi 115Buyende 110Karenga 98Nwoya 95Nabilatuk 93Kaberamaido 90Ngora 82Sironko 70Otuke 67Bukwo 62Kibaale 57Amolatar 53Buvuma 50Amudat 48Amuru 45Nakapiripirit 45Serere 42
