IGANGA, UGANDA: Preparations are in high gear for the Iganga district Tuberculosis (TB) Run which is aimed at fundraising funds for the construction of a TB ward at the district hospital at Nakavule.
The district leaders who have come up with this initiative say that a number of people are suffering from tuberculosis(TB) but efforts have been geared toward other diseases like malaria, STIs, COVID-19, and Ebola, among others which they say that it has hindered the battle in fighting other infections like TB.
Speaking to DailyExpress on Thursday, the district chairperson, Mr Gabula Ezera rallied people from all over Iganga and beyond to get involved in the run which will take place this Saturday, March 11, 2023, with the Kyabazinga of Busoga HRH William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope Kadhumbula IV as the chief runner.
“We want to fundraise for a TB ward and we call upon people in Iganga and beyond to join us in this exercise. TB is curable but we want to separate people with this disease such that they get a special ward, ” Gabula told this publication.
The Resident District Commissioner(RDC) Iganga district, Wandera Sadala has urged people to respond to the call by sacrificing what they have and buy kits, t-shirts and tickets.
“I want to call upon everyone to join this exercise and we’re aiming at treating the patients of TB in their special ward. TB is one of the killer diseases and we can fight it by ensuring that TB patients are not treated in the same ward with patients with other illnesses,” said RDC Wandera.
Dr Kitimbo Patrick, the Iganga district health officer (DHO) said that everyone can be infected with TB at any moment and that it’s crucial to build a ward for such patients. Mr Kitimbo says the district hospital serves patients from a number of districts like Luuka, Mayuge, Namutumba, Bugweri, Kaliro, and Bugiri, among others and that the ward will serve a pivotal role in treating and ending TB in Eastern Uganda, particularly in Busoga sub-region.
“You can avoid TB when you stop breathing and you know very well that when you stop breathing, you’re dead. Therefore, if you’re not planning to stop breathing now, let us come together and build a TB ward because the disease is infectious and can be transmitted from one person to another but the good thing is that it’s curable if detected and treated early,” Dr Kitimbo said in a press interview with DailyExpress on Thursday.
Iganga district NRM chairperson Hajj Walubi Abubakar commended the health facility for treating tuberculosis amidst the challenge of the absence of a specific ward. He revealed that stakeholders in Iganga have organized the run to depict its necessity at the hospital and their willingness to contribute towards the cause before others can intervene to support it.
“Iganga general hospital is among the best hospitals in treating TB but the challenge is that people heal after infecting others because they are treated in the same ward. There are people coordinating with Iganga leaders to build a ward but they want stakeholders and residents to do something as a sign of commitment and it’s why the run was organized,” Hajj Walubi said.
He also urged people to support the cause by buying kits, T-shirts and tickets from the health facility, Total fueling station in Iganga and from the mobile van before he urged various organizations in Iganga and Busoga in general to support the cause citing that everyone can be a victim of TB at any time.
The preparations have attracted a number of leaders from different institutions including the prime minister of Kigulu chiefdom in Busoga Kingdom, Mr Wakabi Noah alias Omulongo, who rallied people in Kigulu and Busoga, in general, to converge at municipal council primary school on Saturday to welcome the Kyabazinga before setting off for the run.
The Iganga TB Run has been organized for a 5km and 10km distances where the runners will set off from Iganga municipal council primary school in Iganga town and running Kits, t-shirts and tickets have been set at a fee of 20k and 50k for ordinary and VIP respectively.
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