Government has doubled its budget to procurement vaccines for citizens and step up fight against mosquitoes in the country.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Tuesday presented the health sector’s progress on the implementation of the NRM Manifesto.

Dr. Aceng told media: “Government of Uganda has increased funding for procurement of vaccines to Shs.21 Billion in FY 2019/20 from Shs. 11 Billion in 2018/19.”

The minister revealed plan to step up fight against malaria. She said: “Uganda will roll out distribution of 27.4 million free mosquito nets country wide beginning June 2020.”

Dr. Aceng added: “The malaria prevalence in children under 5 years declined from 55% in 2009 to 17% in 2017.”

On HIV, she said: “Transmission of HIV from infected mothers to their new born babies fell to less than 3,000 babies.”

The minister added: “Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) coverage among HIV infected adults and children increased to 86% in 2018/19.”

Dr. Aceng added: “Uganda Cancer Institute is in the process of establishing Regional Cancer Centres in Gulu and Mbarara to increase access to care.”

She said: “Access to health care increased to 86% of the population within 5km of reach of public or private health facilities, from 75% in 2010.”

On measles, the minister revealed: “In October 2019, Ministry of Health vaccinated a total of 19,241,348 children under 15 years during the mass Measles-Rubella campaign. A coverage of 106% was achieved.”

She revealed: “A new Cobalt-60 Radiotherapy Machine was commissioned and construction of 6 more radiotherapy bunkers to improve the radiotherapy services is ongoing.”