3,000 residents of Busia vaccinated against Monkey Pox (M-POX)

SALOME ALWANDA-KNA 

More than 3,000 Busia residents received M-pox vaccinations during a 10-day campaign.

Busia Sub County Health Promotion Officer Kennedy Oloo said the initiative targeted truck drivers, sex workers, and those who interact with them, following a stakeholder sensitization forum at the County Commissioner’s office.

Healthcare workers were stationed at strategic points to ensure broad community coverage, he added.

Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease that spreads from human to human and it is characterized by rashes with blisters often on face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth and genitals, swollen lymph nodes, headache and muscle aches.

The disease can spread through close contact with an infected person such as skinto-skin touching or cuts, sexual activity, mouth-to-mouth contact, or breathing in infectious respiratory particles.

From the initial infection sites, the virus replicates and spreads to the lymph nodes. Kennedy Oloo reported that Busia had recorded 68 Mpox cases and two deaths with 1,500 residents vaccinated in both Busia Sub County and Teso North.

He said the campaign involved representatives from truck drivers, sex workers, religious leaders, boda boda riders, and other community leaders to ensure broad engagement.

The official urged the stakeholders to ensure that the targeted population is sensitized on the need to be vaccinated. 

Busia Sub County HIV Coordinator Joan Anyanga called on residents to adopt preventive measures such as regular hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, and personal protective equipment to curb the spread of M-pox.

Joan Anyanga pointed out that Busia is especially vulnerable to M-pox due to the steady flow of long-distance truck drivers from countries like Congo.

She explained that these individuals often engage in business and stay overnight in local hotels, increasing the risk of transmission within the community.

She also highlighted that surveillance and routine screening efforts are currently underway at entry points to monitor and contain M-pox cases.

She added that Uganda initiated its own Mpox vaccination campaign two to three weeks ago, emphasizing that regional collaboration is key to preventing further spread of the disease.

Human rights activist Eunice Adhiambo urged members of the targeted population to turn out in large numbers for M-pox vaccination, stressing the importance of widespread participation.

She also called on health officials to enforce hygiene standards among local hoteliers to help curb the transmission of the virus.

A resident, Kevin Odulo, appealed to the government to boost the supply of M-pox vaccine doses, emphasizing the need to expand coverage and ensure more individuals in the community are adequately protected.

The exercise is being supported by UNICEF through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the County Government of Busia.