By Ritah Rose Kalendera
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has officially opened a high-level town hall meeting aimed at accelerating the uptake of routine immunization services, including the recently introduced malaria vaccine.
The meeting held at Hotel Triangle brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including religious, cultural, and district leaders from the Ankole and Kigezi regions.
Their collective goal was to discuss strategies to improve health service delivery, address barriers to vaccine uptake, and promote trust in public health interventions.
Dr. Atwine emphasized the importance of routine immunization in preventing disease outbreaks and protecting children’s health.
She noted that the inclusion of the malaria vaccine into the immunization schedule represents a significant milestone in Uganda’s fight against the deadly disease, which continues to affect thousands of families annually.
However the event featured a live question-and-answer session, where community members were given the opportunity to interact directly with health officials.
This platform allowed citizens to express concerns, share their experiences, and provide feedback on the accessibility and quality of healthcare services in their respective districts.
Leaders in attendance reaffirmed their commitment to mobilizing communities, raising awareness, and working closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that all eligible children receive life-saving vaccines.
The town hall meeting is part of a broader national effort to strengthen primary healthcare and ensure that no child is left behind in the country’s immunization drive.