It’s a shame that Ugandans living in the 39 districts of northern and Teso sub-regions are dodging the hepatitis B vaccine meant to provide them with total immunity against the viral infection.
Knowing how Hepatitis B is a dangerous disease, more deadly than HIV, I find it hard to believe that there are people who are so neglective of their lives. If it was me, I would not hesitate to get vaccinated.
If the minister of health, Dr. Ruth Acheng worries that the hepatitis B vaccines worth billions of shillings are likely to be expired without benefiting the people in the north, I suggest they transfer those vaccines to the central region.
Even if the risk of contracting Hepatitis B is higher in the northern regions, given the way Hepatitis B is spread, I believe that the central region, in fact all regions in Uganda stand the risk. If there is still free movement of people from the northern region to other parts of the country, no one is safe from Hepatitis B.
So, if the people in the northern region are dodging the vaccination, it’s better for the ministry of health to bring those vaccines to the central region. They will be appreciated here given that the vaccines available are charged. Why should they be wasted if there are people here who value them?
