Health leaders work to strengthen immunization in Pader district as officials move to close vaccination gaps and improve coverage

24 June 2026, 11:37 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

Health leaders in Pader District have stepped up efforts to strengthen immunization services and close vaccination gaps, as both district and national health officials push to improve coverage and child health outcomes across the district.

The development was highlighted during a Ministry of Health meeting supported by PATH at the district health boardroom, which brought together officials from the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunization (UNEPI), the District Health Team (DHT), and local leaders including representatives from the Chief Administrative Officer’s (CAO) office, political leaders.

Dr. Benson Oyoo, the District Health Officer (DHO), welcomed the UNEPI delegation led by Dr. Louis B. Bayo, noting strong participation from district leadership and commitment to improving service delivery.

Dr. Oyoo said the Ministry of Health recently introduced the malaria vaccine as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), now integrated into routine child vaccination services in the district.

He explained that the vaccine, administered in four doses between six and eighteen months, has been in use for about one year since its introduction.

“The malaria vaccine has now been integrated into our system, and tracking is done both at district and national level,” he said.

Dr. Oyoo, however, expressed concern that the district’s immunisation performance has declined compared to previous years, when Pader consistently ranked among the top-performing districts.

He noted that achieving category one status reflects strong vaccine coverage and reduced risk of vaccine-preventable diseases in communities.

Meanwhile, Dr. Louis B. Bayo, Senior Management Officer at UNEPI, called for intensified mentorship and on-ground support to address persistent gaps in immunization performance across selected health facilities.

He said his visit aimed at assessing performance challenges using 2025 data up to the current year, which revealed gaps in several facilities.

He added that the team conducted field visits to better understand service delivery challenges and strengthen mentorship at facility level.

Dr. Bayo emphasized that mentorship is key to improving performance and ensuring sustainable immunization services.

He also highlighted the upcoming nationwide measles vaccination campaign scheduled for October, aimed at responding to recent outbreaks in parts of the country. He also noted the measles outbreak in Pader last year and applauded the district for responding adequately. However, the risk of measles outbreaks remained given neighbouring districts in Acholi region like Gulu and Agago had ongoing outbreaks and coverage for the second dose of measles was still in the Acholi region.

Both Dr. Oyoo and Dr. Bayo urged stronger coordination between health workers, district leadership, and national teams to improve immunization coverage and ensure that no child is left behind in vaccination services.