Mubende District Grapples with Diverse Health Challenges Amidst Immunization Efforts

Health authorities in Mubende District are confronting multiple public health threats while implementing critical immunisation programs, revealing complex challenges in healthcare delivery.

The district, which previously battled Ebola outbreaks, now faces significant hurdles in achieving vaccination targets for malaria and childhood diseases.  

Dr. Bob Sekyanzi, Mubende District Health Officer, reported concerning trends: "Malaria remains our leading cause of morbidity, filling hospital beds daily." While childhood immunisation for diseases like measles stands at 118% coverage for the first dose, second dose rates drop sharply to 67%, exposing vulnerabilities in the vaccination continuum.  

 Amref has also trained, empowered and equipped leaders  in Mubende since March 2025 on the basic immunisation and vaccination-related information

The district's health profile is complicated by a transient population with diverse health beliefs that resist government protocols; hard-to-reach subcounties (Kiruuma, Kayebe, Kitenga, Nabinhoola) lacking HCIII facilities; lingering distrust stemming from the Ebola and COVID-19 responses; and cultural resistance, where male partners block child immunisation. 

The authorities have partnered with AMREF Health Africa to handle the immunisation and vaccination challenges in the district.

AMREF Health Africa trains health workers and village health teams, and also conducts outreach activities under the Saving Lives and Livelihood project, which has reached most underserved and underprivileged sub-counties in the district, aiming to scale up immunisation uptake.

The project has sensitised the masses on the immunisation benefits, debunked  the myths against immunisation, health-seeking behaviours among others, for the well-being of society and a healthy community

Midwife Farudah Kiggwe from Kitenga Subcounty described field challenges: "Many fathers prevent wives from vaccinating children due to misinformation." This is compounded by infrastructure gaps, as noted by biostatistician Robert Senyonjo: "Long distances to health centres disproportionately affect rural mothers."  

Charles Kawuma, the district health educator, emphasised how recent epidemics disrupted routine services: "Ebola and COVID-19 severely damaged community trust in our systems." Of Mubende's 55 health facilities, only 42 currently provide immunisation services, stretching existing resources thin.