The deputy speaker of parliament Rt Hon Anita Among has called upon legislators to be on the fore front of mobilizing their constituents to go for vaccination against COVID 19 in the allocated vaccination centers across the country.
Hon Among informed the MPs that it’s their mandate to act as the voice of the voice less and not only to point fingers at the ministry of health to do the mobilization.
This followed after the legislators accused the minister for health Hon Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng of not doing enough and as the ministry to mobilize the masses to go for vaccination.
The minister was giving a report to parliament on Uganda’s preparedness to combat the threat of new Covid-19 Variant Omicron which was identified by scientists in South Africa.
While giving her report, minister Ruth Aceng indicated that a total of over 17 million doses has been received by the government through donations and direct procurement by the Ugandan government adding that her ministry expects additional over 15 million doses by the end of December.
Minister revealed to the house that so far 6,973161 doses of the vaccine have been administered to the population and of this, 5,767857 which is 25% of the 22 million eligible persons have already received the first dose, while 1,205161 which is only 5% have received the second dose,
However, the legislators viewed this as reluctance by the ministry in mobilizing the masses for the process.
Ruth Aceng also provided alternative measures in case the situation worsens again such as testing for every individual on the border points before they enter the country, procurement of enough bed capacities, and buying of oxygen plants in case the situation goes worse.
Minister while reacting on the MPs concerns also urged them to reach out to their constituents saying that covid-19 doesn’t affect the country only but also individuals.
The minister also told the parliament that she is in preparations probably next week to present an ACT which is to address COVID-19 issues concerning individuals who are reluctant to adhere with the ministry of health and president’s COVID-19 standard operating procedures.
Adding on the minister’s voice, Hon John Magolo Faith the Bunghoko county North MP, requested the deputy speaker, if possible to allow parliament to go in recess so that MPs go to their constituencies and mobilize the people in local communities to go for vaccination.
