OLI HEALTH CENTRE IV REPORTS SUSPECTED MEASLES CASE AFTER MISSED VACCINATION.

 A community Health Extension Worker CHEW taking a child to the immunization point at Oli Health Centre IV. Photo// Dramadri Federick

By Dramadri Federick and Asara Charity

Health authorities in Arua City are managing a suspected case of measles involving a one-year-four-month-old child at Oli Health Centre IV, amid renewed calls for parents and caregivers to ensure that children receive all recommended vaccinations.

The suspected case was recorded on September 30, 2026, after the child, a resident of Ambeko Cell in Adalafu Ward, Ayivu West Constituency, presented at the health facility with several symptoms consistent with measles.

The child is currently admitted at Oli Health Centre IV, where health workers are providing treatment and monitoring the condition.

According to Drijaru Jane Aida, a Health Educator for Arua Central Division stationed at Oli Health Centre IV, preliminary assessment indicated that the child had missed the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination, leaving the child without the protection provided by the vaccine.

Aida says the child presented with cough, pneumonia, a skin rash and eye infection, in addition to weakness and inability to eat.

“We already have one suspected case of measles which we have admitted in the ward. This child has cough, pneumonia, skin rash, eye infection and is weak and cannot eat. The child presented with signs and symptoms of measles,” Aida said.

She said health workers are treating the child while also using the case as an opportunity to educate the mother and the wider community about the importance of completing routine childhood immunisation.

Aida explained that the child’s immunisation history also showed missed vaccines beyond measles-rubella, including yellow fever and malaria vaccination, which health workers say should be administered according to the national immunisation schedule.

“We are going to treat the child and also give health education to the mother so that other children in the future do not miss vaccination as this child has already missed,” she said.

Health workers warn against missed vaccinations

Drijaru Jane Aida the Arua Central Divison Health Educator warns community members to follow the routine immunizations to prevent such diseases. Photo//Dramadri Federick

Health workers say missed or delayed vaccinations can leave children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases and can contribute to immunity gaps within communities.

The development in Arua comes barely a month after health authorities confirmed a measles outbreak in neighbouring Adjumani District, raising concern about the potential for transmission across communities in the wider West Nile region.

Justine Orodriko, the Health Inspector for Arua Central Division, says the city has adequate vaccine supplies and is encouraging parents and caregivers to take advantage of vaccination services.

“We have enough vaccines and other supplies, so we are going to vaccinate all the children from nine months to five years. I expect all the community members to bring their children to the vaccination posts so that these children are vaccinated,” Orodriko said.

She urged parents not to wait until children become sick before seeking immunisation services.

The call comes as Uganda continues to strengthen routine immunisation and respond to measles outbreaks reported in different parts of the country.

Uganda continues to face measles outbreaks

Figures attributed to the Ministry of Health indicate that, since January 2026, measles outbreaks have been confirmed in 20 districts, with 12 deaths reported.

The figures add to the disease burden recorded in 2025, when more than 10,163 measles cases and 60 deaths were reported across 66 districts.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects children. It can cause fever, cough, runny nose, red or inflamed eyes and a characteristic skin rash. Severe cases can result in complications, including pneumonia and other serious illnesses, particularly among vulnerable children.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health maintains specific national clinical guidance for the identification and management of suspected measles cases.

The recurrence of outbreaks highlights the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage. Public-health programmes generally aim for at least 95 percent population coverage with measles-containing vaccines because high coverage helps reduce the opportunity for sustained transmission.

Parents urged to check children’s immunisation cards

Health authorities in Arua are therefore encouraging parents and caregivers to check their children’s immunisation cards and visit the nearest health facility or designated vaccination post if any recommended dose has been missed.

For health workers, the Arua case is also a reminder that routine immunisation is not only an individual protection measure but also an important community-level intervention.

When more children are protected against measles, the virus has fewer opportunities to spread, reducing the risk of outbreaks and protecting children who may be particularly vulnerable to severe disease.

As health workers continue monitoring the child admitted at Oli Health Centre IV, authorities are also encouraging communities to report children presenting with symptoms associated with measles and to seek medical attention rather than relying on home treatment.

The Ministry of Health’s continued emphasis on immunisation reflects the broader objective of closing immunity gaps and sustaining protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. Uganda’s immunisation programme has previously demonstrated that large-scale vaccination campaigns can reach millions of children when communities actively participate.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis