Did you know that not taking your child for immunization could land you in jail?
Government has drafted a bill to ensure all children below the age of five are fully immunized against the killer diseases.
Health minister Dr. Christine Ondoa has this morning presented the draft Immunization Bill 2013 to members of parliament on the health committee.
She said the bill seeks to compel parents to take children for immunization and prescribes a 6 month jail sentence for those who do not comply.
Ondoa says absence of legislation on immunization has led to many parents abandoning the role of ensuring good health for their children.
Once the law comes into force, schools will be required to only admit children who are fully immunized.
Currently Uganda is ranked highest in East and Southern Africa in terms of numbers of unimmunized children.
Some of the immunisable diseases include; Polio, Tuberculosis, Measles, Tetanus and Pnemonia among others.
The bill is ready to be presented to parliament.
