Kyegegwa officials alarmed by low child immunisation rates in Rwentuha

30 June 2025, 18:06

By Noah Kasangaki Ateenyi

Health officials in Kyegegwa District have raised concerns over low immunisation rates among children in Rwentuha Sub county, citing parental negligence and home births as key causes.

The experts have expressed growing worry over the increasing number of residents abandoning essential health services, particularly childhood immunisation.

During a community engagement meeting held on Saturday, 28th June, at Mukayembe Trading Centre and attended by locals from surrounding villages such as Ruhangira and Kinombe in Rwentuha Sub county, Kyegegwa District Health Educator Ronald Mugabi revealed troubling statistics. He noted that in Mukayembe alone, 26 children under the age of five had not received any immunisation, while a further 18 had not completed their required doses.

Mugabi stated that, in response to these alarming figures, the Ministry of Health, in partnership with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), has launched a community engagement campaign aimed at understanding the root causes behind the low uptake of health services.

Responding to residents’ concerns, Mugabi announced that the district health department is considering establishing a permanent outreach programme in the area to improve access to services. He urged parents to make full use of the proposed facility.

Meanwhile, Scovia Nyamahunge, the Health Inspector for Rwentuha Sub county, attributed the rising number of unimmunised children to the continued practice of giving birth in villages rather than at health facilities. She condemned this trend and encouraged mothers to seek professional medical care during childbirth.

Some community members also pointed to misinformation and parental negligence. They cited a lack of awareness, coupled with complacency among some parents, as contributing factors to the poor health-seeking behaviour in the area.

The district health team pledged to intensify health education and mobilisation efforts to ensure that all children receive the care they need, as part of broader initiatives to improve community health across Kyegegwa.