The ministry of health permanent secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, has warned health facilities to avoid turning yellow fever vaccination into a business venture.
Dr. Atwiine sounded the warning during a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Health and a number of health facilities that have been deemed fit to administer yellow fever vaccines in the country on Wednesday.
22 health facilities from Kampala, Tororo, Kabale and Entebbe have been given the green light to administer the vaccine by the ministry, while twelve of the facilities were able to sign the MOU on Wednesday.
These include; KCCA Clinic, Mengo Hospital, Nakasero Hospital, St. Catherine Hospital, Norvik Hospital, Kitante Medical Centre, Victoria Hospital, Victoria Medical Centre, Airport Medical Centre, Rugarama Hospital, Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, Rushoroza Health Centre IV, and Tororo Hospital.
Other facilities are; Span Medicare, Masafu Hospital in Mayuge district, Span Medicare, City Medicals, Doctors Hospital Sseguku, International Medical Centre, Kampala Medical Chambers, Le Memorial Medical Services and Jabez Vaccinations.
The PS says that government was forced to carry out the activities of assessing health centres due to high numbers of irregularities that surrounded yellow fever vaccination and the issuance of certificates.
She adds that the ministry will reserve the authority to print the certificates and distribute them to health facilities in a bid to stop forgeries.
Assistant Commissioner for Integrated Curative Services, Jackson Amone said that a total of 50,000 yellow fever certificates have been printed by the ministry and will be issued out to the facilities free of charge.
Amone says the new certificates will have a new security measure unlike the old ones. The assessed facilities will be able to access the cards the moment they present a specimen signature at the ministry.
Atwine said that all old vaccination certificates will be recalled and new ones issued from assessed facilities, since only they have the authority to carry out yellow fever vaccinations.
