Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Rotary International President Arrezo visits Jjanyi immunisation centre

Saturday 21st February 2026 started like any other day but for the people of Jjanyi township in Kajjansi Town Council, it was an historical day.

History was made as mothers with their little children walked from far and near to take their children for the routine immunisation at All Saints Jjanyi Church of Uganda Rotary immunisation Centre under construction.  By 7:00am, over 30 people had arrived and seated in the dfcu branded tents.


Rotarians, Rotaractors, Local Council members, Village Health Team (VHTs) and Jjanyi Church members were working tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly as scheduled.

On the other hand, cameras were set and lenses were zooming to capture every detail.

It was a beehive of activities at the newly constructed immunisation Centre. All members of the organising committee worked tooth and nail to see that the function flowed smoothly.

Rtn. Barbra Kawere and her team were busy preparing breakfast for the guests and made sure  that nobody missed taking a bite.

As the clock ticked 8:30am, Police officers blocked the road, diverting traffic to pass via the Church compound through the football field then to Jjanyi Trading centre.


By 9:30am, the whole place was already buzzing with human traffic. All tents had been filled yet more people were still coming in. More plastic chairs had to be brought in and also a tent which 0had been prepared for breakfast was transferred to accommodate the visitors.

The Rotary Club of Kampala South gave the mothers Mama kits. Mothers left praising Rotary.


At 10:00am the Rotary fellowship begun jointly presided over by Rotary club  Presidents of Kajjansi, Kampala South and Rotaract club of Kajjansi. During that fellowship, they made a fundraising drive by selling  apples and proceeds were geared towards completion of the Immunisation Centre. The Rotaractors later on donated those apples to mothers who had brought their children for immunisation .

Then an health expert from Mildmay Hospital gave a 15 minute talk to mothers present.

As time approached 11:00am, police sirens were heard towards Nganjo as they approached Jjanyi Township. It was now the appointed time to recieve the Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo. 

In a blink of an eye, the motorcade was already at Jjanyi. As Governors Geoffrey Kitakule D9213 and Christine Kyeyune Kawooya D9214, recieved the Chief guest, ululations and sounds of the bakisimba drums filled the air. President t Arezzo moved to the sounds of the drums waving to Rotarians and community members. Rotarians waved EndPolioNow flags on one side and the other side had the Italian flag.

The guests moved straight and entered the new building where PDG Peace Taremwa a member of Rotary Club of Kajjansi took them through the historial journey of Polio immunisation in Jjanyi that dated back to 2001 when Rotary Club of Kampala South started the exercise in the area till 2004 when they handed it over to Rotary Club of Kajjansi.

After that brief history, RI President who was clad in a red polo shirt branded End Polio Now, put on gloves and immunised a baby against polio. Next was his spouse to do the same and all other distinguished Governors present. It was a moment of joy for both the mother and members of the community. I heard one lady saying “maama oyo yeesiimye, omwana we agemeddwa muzungu” loosely translated as she is veery lucky to have her child being vaccinated by a white man.

NEXT we had photo opportunity at the steps to the main entrance of the Immunisation Centre as Interactors danced to the kiganda bakisimba drums.

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment