Ministry of health has told members of parliament that there is a deficit of 11.8 million doses of vaccines for the first phase of Hepatitis B National Vaccination program in the 39 districts of Northern and Eastern Uganda.

Making a presentation before the parliamentary committee on Health, the Director General Health services Dr. Anthony Mbonye revealed that a total of 16.4 million people currently need the Hepatitis B vaccination but that this has been hampered by a deficit of vaccines, testing kits, Laboratory reagents, Antivirals, among other consumables.

Dr. Mbonye the Director General of Health Services.

Mbonye told the committee chaired by Bukuya Member of Parliament Dr. Michael Bukenya said that the first phase of the vaccination exercise will cost 48 billion shillings while for the entire country a total of 220 Billion shillings is required.

He stressed that with the number of deaths due to Hepatitis B standing at 256 in 2015/2016, it is paramount that the funding gaps are closed to ensure effective vaccination and management of the disease.

The minister of health Dr.Ruth Aceng said that to date 7 billion shillings vaccine for Hepatitis B has been procured and added that the ministry’s target is to vaccinate people in districts with no Hepatitis B since it is not acceptable to vaccinate those with this disease

Lira District Woman MP Joy Atim Ongom asked the ministry of health to scale up sensitization about Hepatitis B since it’s a serious problem affecting many in her constituency and other parts of the country.

Currently there only 6 Hepatitis Clinics in the country yet demand for the services is big.

So far 1.8 doses of vaccines have been distributed to 13 districts for the first phase where the exercise has commenced. He said that another 73 districts will be cover the subsequent phases of the vaccination exercise.