Kampala, Uganda– The Authorities of Uganda via Ministry of Well being (MOH) has recognised Dr Annet Kisakye, the World Well being Group (WHO) Nationwide Skilled Officer (Routine Immunization) for her excellent contributions to enhancing immunization companies in Uganda. 

The award was offered to Dr Kisakye by Dr Sania Nishtar, Chief Govt Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance on 19 November 2024 in Kampala. This was in the course of the celebration of fifty years of Uganda’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

With over 15 years of expertise at WHO, Dr Kisakye has offered technical steerage and help to MOH in a number of areas together with strengthening routine immunization, introducing new vaccines, the polio eradication initiative, eliminating measles, strengthening surveillance, eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus together with outbreak and pandemic response actions amongst others. Her work has straight contributed to stopping illness outbreaks and saving lives via vaccination within the nation.

Dr Kisakye performed a pivotal function in a marketing campaign to avoid wasting lives in opposition to Cholera an infection when the nation began vaccinating the individuals dwelling in 13 hotspot districts as a part of the nationwide built-in complete cholera prevention and management plan 2017/18-2021/22. Since then, no outbreaks have been registered in these districts. 

The popularity, in response to Dr Kisakye, is a testomony to the collective efforts of many devoted people, companions, and communities dedicated to enhancing public well being. She feels impressed to proceed striving for a more healthy future for all Ugandans.

Dr Kisakye supported the roll out of the Ebola vaccine in Uganda in 2018. She was a co-Principal Investigator, supervising over 100 individuals within the enormous, pressing effort. That is in step with the life course strategy as stipulated within the Immunization Agenda 2030. The roll out required fast vaccination of 6,805 at-risk well being employees in 13 districts between November 2018 and September 2019, racing in opposition to time to supply safety in opposition to Ebola Zaire species earlier than any importation.

“We additionally needed to isolate and monitor 4 well being employees on the border for signs of suspected Ebola virus illness, to stop potential transmission. All have been already vaccinated, nevertheless it was nonetheless a worrying time for them. Nobody died or turned critically in poor health, illustrating clearly that vaccines work and save lives,” says Dr Kisakye.

The popularity, in response to Dr Kisakye, is a testomony to the collective efforts of many devoted people, companions, and communities dedicated to enhancing public well being. She feels impressed to proceed striving for a more healthy future for all Ugandans, particularly on this period the place vaccine hesitancy—a widely known international risk—is contributing to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable illnesses corresponding to measles. 

Dr Kisakye’s coronary heart aches when she sees a baby affected by a vaccine-preventable illness, particularly when vaccines and people to manage them are available. She advocates for Improvements to vaccinate all eligible individuals.

A medical physician with a grasp’s diploma in public well being, Dr Annet Kisakye ran medical wards in private and non-private hospitals in Kampala earlier than becoming a member of WHO. She started working as Uganda’s Immunization and Surveillance Officer, increasing her portfolio over time to incorporate a variety of vaccine preventable illnesses and Built-in Illness Surveillance and Response. 

Congratulations to Dr Kisakye!

The WHO household proudly celebrates her well-deserved award, honouring the numerous contribution to the well being sector over the previous 20 years and past.