A total of 147 districts across Uganda will receive a package of job aids to help hospitals and health centres improve immunisation and combat the spread of deadly diseases among children and adults.
Dr Alfred Driwale, the commissioner for Institutional and Health Workforce Development at the ministry of Health, announced the development during the handover of immunisation job aids at the Ministry’s headquarters in Kampala.
“We are very pleased with the strong partnerships we have built with Africa CDC, Amref, and UNICEF, which have deepened collaboration in ensuring easy access to vaccines, promoting equity in vaccination, and increasing overall immunisation coverage,” Dr Driwale said.
He noted that thanks to these partnerships, immunisation rates have risen significantly, contributing to a major public health shift, pneumonia has now overtaken malaria as the leading cause of death among children.
“This strong collaboration has led to remarkable progress. We are seeing malaria cases and deaths decline, while pneumonia has emerged as the top killer disease among children — a shift that underscores the need for continued vigilance,” Dr Driwale explained.
He urged health workers to make full use of the job aids, saying they will serve as valuable reference materials to boost knowledge, skills and confidence in administering vaccines effectively, even during their busiest schedules.
Dr Driwale also highlighted that Uganda’s vaccination programme has expanded from the initial six childhood killer diseases to cover fourteen. The focus, he said, has now widened to include zero-dose children — those who have never received any vaccine — and life-course immunisation, including vaccinations for adults and during outbreaks such as Covid-19.
Gebre Michael Molla Ayene, Head of Mission at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), commended the Ugandan government and its partners for their leadership in strengthening immunisation efforts.
He reaffirmed Africa CDC’s commitment to supporting countries like Uganda with skills, systems and resources to anticipate and respond to future health threats.
“We are committed to deepening cooperation with Uganda in advancing health surveillance and establishing a new public health order,” Ayene said. “This partnership is not just about vaccines — it’s a broader investment in building sustainable health capacity.”
Dr Patrick Tumusiime Kagurusi, the Amref Uganda country manager, also praised the rollout of the job aids, describing them as a crucial tool for preventing disease through immunisation.
He revealed that Amref began compiling the materials earlier this year as part of its work in Greater Mubende, supporting child health days and training health workers in eight districts, including Kyankwanzi, one of the priority areas.
The job aids, worth nearly Shs 300 million, will be distributed by the National Medical Stores (NMS) to 147 districts. They are designed to guide health workers on vaccine administration and help reduce the spread of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
