Kampala, Uganda– The Executive of Uganda through Ministry of Health (MOH) has recognised Dr Annet Kisakye, the World Health Group (WHO) Nationwide Official Officer (Routine Immunization) for her outstanding contributions to improving immunization products and services in Uganda.
The award was as soon as presented to Dr Kisakye by Dr Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance on 19 November 2024 in Kampala. This was as soon as during the celebration of fifty years of Uganda’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).
With over 15 years of expertise at WHO, Dr Kisakye has equipped technical guidance and reinforce to MOH in various areas including strengthening routine immunization, introducing original vaccines, the polio eradication initiative, eliminating measles, strengthening surveillance, eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus including outbreak and pandemic response activities among others. Her work has instantly contributed to preventing illness outbreaks and saving lives through vaccination in the country.
Dr Kisakye performed a pivotal characteristic in a marketing campaign to place lives against Cholera infection when the country started vaccinating the of us living in 13 hotspot districts as half of the nationwide integrated complete cholera prevention and relief a watch on understanding 2017/18-2021/22. Since then, no outbreaks contain been registered in those districts.
The recognition, according to Dr Kisakye, is a testomony to the collective efforts of many devoted individuals, companions, and communities dedicated to improving public health. She feels inspired to continue striving for a more fit future for all Ugandans.
Dr Kisakye supported the roll out of the Ebola vaccine in Uganda in 2018. She was as soon as a co-Principal Investigator, supervising over 100 of us in the enormous, pressing effort. Here is in line with the existence direction system as stipulated in the Immunization Agenda 2030. The roll out required speedily vaccination of 6,805 at-possibility medical examiners in 13 districts between November 2018 and September 2019, racing against time to offer protection against Ebola Zaire species before any importation.
“We additionally needed to isolate and video display four medical examiners on the border for indicators of suspected Ebola virus illness, to prevent doable transmission. All contain been already vaccinated, however it was as soon as quiet a worrying time for them. No one died or grew to develop into seriously ill, illustrating clearly that vaccines work and put lives,” says Dr Kisakye.
The recognition, according to Dr Kisakye, is a testomony to the collective efforts of many devoted individuals, companions, and communities dedicated to improving public health. She feels inspired to continue striving for a more fit future for all Ugandans, particularly in this period the place vaccine hesitancy—a smartly-identified global possibility—is contributing to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases akin to measles.
Dr Kisakye’s coronary heart aches when she sees a baby suffering from a vaccine-preventable illness, particularly when vaccines and those to administer them are readily on hand. She advocates for Innovations to vaccinate all eligible individuals.
A medical physician with a grasp’s diploma in public health, Dr Annet Kisakye ran medical wards in private and non-private hospitals in Kampala before joining WHO. She began working as Uganda’s Immunization and Surveillance Officer, expanding her portfolio over time to include a fluctuate of vaccine preventable diseases and Integrated Illness Surveillance and Response.
Congratulations to Dr Kisakye!
The WHO family proudly celebrates her smartly-deserved award, honouring the loads of contribution to the health sector over the past Two decades and past.
