Those vaccinated are children aged between 9 months and 5 years. They were vaccinated last week in the second round of the mass measles vaccination conducted in the district by health officials.
The outbreak was confirmed last week in four villages of Runga and Kavava in Kiganja sub-county, and Tonya and Rwentale in Buseruka sub-county, along the shores of Lake Albert with children between the ages of one and five years being the most affected demographic group.
As of now, 302 people have been affected by the outbreak, with children between the ages of one and five years being the most affected demographic group. In response, health authorities, led by Dr. Fredrick Byenume, the Acting District Health Officer, have launched a mass vaccination campaign targeting children aged one to fifteen years.
The outbreak has so far been confirmed in four villages of Runga and Kavava in Kiganja sub-county, and Tonya and Rwentale in Buseruka sub county, along the shores of Lake Albert.
Dr Lawrence Tumusiime, the Hoima District Health Officer says that the district is running out of the COVID-19 vaccine with less than 400 doses remaining.
Dr Nicholas Kwikiriza, the Kikuube District Health officer-DHO confirmed the outbreak of the disease in an interview with Uganda Radio Network on Friday afternoon. This came after a 16-year old girl, a refugee and resident of Musiinsa A Village in the Kyangwali Refugee settlement area tested positive for the disease on April 28, 2021.
Dr Rogers Musinguzi, the Head of COVID-19 Case management team in Masindi district, told Uganda Radio Network on Monday morning that they are arranging to transfer the two senior health officials to either Entebbe hospital or Hoima Regional Referral Hospital COVID-19 Treatment Unit.
Fredrick Byenume, the Hoima District Health Inspector, says they realised a huge number of people are infected during a community surveillance exercise they conducted last week.
Dr Rogers Musinguzi, the Head of COVID-19 Case Management team in Masindi, says that given the big number of people who came into direct contact with the police officer, they have decided to use Masindi Public Primary school to accommodate COVID-19 suspects since the only one Isolation centre at Masindi hospital is not appropriate.
Dr. Nelson Naisye, the Buliisa District Health Officer-DHO told Uganda Radio network on Tuesday that the boat operators have been crossing to DRC to transport Congolese nationals with relatives in Uganda.
Initially, it was designed to serve a population of 11,000 people but the population has been increased to 60,000 people, exerting much pressure on the facility given the inadequate funding human resource.
According to Byenume, they are also collaborating with Congolese Health Ministry officials from Butembo, Benin, Musenene, Mabarake, Abima and Mudipa in the Eastern DR Congo who normally alert them of any boat crossing to Kikuube and Hoima by Congolese nationals.
The government banned Traditional Birth Attendants close to ten years ago, with the hope of reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in the country. But their services continue to be both widespread and popular, attracting a number of women who shun the services of trained and skilled medical personnel.
Dr. Kaducu said their findings on day one show that some intern Doctors were forced to extort money from patients because of delayed payment of their allowances by the health ministry.
Last week, Simon Candia, 31, a resident of in Kitongole village, in Hoima district died of what was suspected to be Ebola, creating suspicion among members of the public that the deadly virus had hit the area.
Tchomia is also one of the busiest fish Markets in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that attracts several Ugandan businessmen from the landing sites of Butiaba, Walukoba, Kijangi, Kaiso,Sebigoro, Nkondo, Ndaiga, Ntoroko, Kyehoro and Fofo from the districts of Hoima, Buliisa, Kikuube, Ntoroko and Kagadi to transact fish business in the Market.
