Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is finding it hard to explain to the public why the authority is making people pay Shs 100,000 for yellow fever vaccination and yet the vaccines were procured by government.
Two weeks ago, KCCA wrote to National Medical Stores (NMS) requesting for 3,000 doses of the vaccine following a stockout at their clinic. The request was honoured. However, despite the fact the vaccines were got for free, people are still being asked to pay for the vaccination.
When we visited the clinic, we found Sulaiman Balonde who had come for vaccination because he is going to Dubai for work. He thought the vaccination was free just like the rest of the government drugs.
"At first they told us that the vaccination is Shs 50,000 but later they increased to Shs 100,000. Am surprised to see that just one injection goes for that amount…Am here stuck, I can't move abroad because of that drug which can be charged for a lower price. Am going to Dubai, the flight is today and we are supposed to leave at 2.40. We are aware [of the need for vaccination] because it was even advertised on radio and actually all media but here at KCCA I don't know how they do their things", he says.
Moses Kamabare, the general manager of NMS wonders why the vaccine which is procured just like any other government drug is being sold by KCCA.
"KCCA through their executive director requested for 3,000 doses of yellow fever vaccine. They said that there is an increased demand and although we hadn't planned for them, we felt obliged to provide this vaccine. They have already collected this vaccine and we hope that they are providing the vaccination through their clinic. Of course like all supplies that we provide to all government facilities, we expect that it is going to be given to the patients free of charge because it is requestioned under their budget which budget is given under government of Uganda", Kamabare said.
Dr David Seruka, the director for public health at KCCA said in a phone interview that they run out of yellow fever vaccines and wrote an emergency request to the NMS. He adds that in order to be consistent they could not give it out for free but maintained their charge of Shs 100,000.
He adds that once KCCA procures their own vaccines, those from NMS will be replaced and will be given to special categories of people for free although he did not mention any other category apart from KCCA staff.
This means that KCCA can make over Shs 300 million from the sale of the vaccines that were already paid for by the government.
"We said rather than do that [provide vaccination for free], let us keep the charge, when we get the replacement of the stock from National Medical Stores that is when we buy...then we shall replace the vials, the ones from NMS…we categorised those ones who are urgent, they are travelling we said let us continue with the consistent charge of Shs 100,000"
The Ministry of Internal Affairs recently issued a travel advisory on the outbreak of yellow fever and asked those traveling outside the country to ensure they are vaccinated against the fever ten days prior to their travel. The advisory followed reports of more than ten people dying as a result of the disease in some areas of Masaka and Kebisoni in Rukungiri district.
Currently, the vaccines are available at four recognised health facilities in the country and they come at a cost. These are: KCCA health centre IV at the City Hall, Norvic hospital, Kazuri clinic at Entebbe international airport and The Surgery in Naguru.
Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by a virus transmitted human to human via an Aedes mosquito bite or to humans from primate reservoir via forest mosquito species.
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