Buvuma residents flee homes to evade Measles-Rubella vaccination

A pupil of Green hill Academy in Kampala undergoes through an immunisation exercise on October 17, 2019 against measles, rubella and polio. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI

What you need to know:

  • The minister explained that contrary to allegations on social media, the Measles-Rubella vaccine does not cause Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), saying that several studies have shown there is no link between the vaccines and developing ASD. ASD is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behaviour.

Authorities in the island district of Buvuma have launched a hunt for leaders of a local Christian religious group popularly known as Njiri Nkalu who have mobilised their members to shun the ongoing immunisation exercise against Measles, Rubella and Polio.

Since the exercise kicked off on Wednesday, children of members of the group have reportedly been dodging health workers that were deployed in the area to carry out immunisation exercise.

On Friday morning, Victory Primary School, which is run by the religious group, remained closed, a move authorities believed was intended to sabotage the government programme. Victory Primary School is estimated to have a total number of 300 pupils and none of the pupils has been vaccinated.

“We have received information that leaders and members of that group had earlier told their children to always flee and hide at the sight of health officials conducting the exercise, but we are going to look for them wherever they are hiding,” Mr Juma Kigongo, the deputy Resident District Commissioner, said on Friday

Mr Martin Nixon Otininge, the chairperson Nayirambi Sub County said they are going to use the remaining two days of immunization to move around the area, sensitising the residents. The immunization exercise is expected to go up to Sunday October 20.

“If parents refuse to voluntarily bring their children for immunization, we shall ask health workers with the help of police to conduct a door-to-door operation to ensure that all children are vaccinated,” he said.

Njiri Nkalu, which has many followers in Busoga sub region has been de-campaigning several government programmes  and in 2014  their  leaders  told members not to  take part in  the National Housing and Population Census claiming that  their religion does not allow them to be counted. It also reportedly bars them from owning phones and sending their children to school.

While launching the mass immunisation exercise on Tuesday in Mayuge District, health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, warned individuals circulating allegations that the vaccines are not okay, saying they risk being arrested and prosecuted.

The minister explained that contrary to allegations on social media, the Measles-Rubella vaccine does not cause Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), saying that several studies have shown there is no link between the vaccines and developing ASD. ASD is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behaviour.