Cholera claims 8 in Kayunga, several admitted

KAYUNGA, UGANDA: At least eight people have so far died and several others are currently admitted to various health facilities following the outbreak of cholera disease in Kayunga District.

According to the District Health Officer (DHO), Dr Ahmed Matovu, all eight deaths are from Busaana Sub-county, with four of those registered from one family in Kayonjo Village.

The last death reported last Friday is from Bisakabidugala village where pit latrine coverage is below the minimum 50 per cent requirement yet close to the River Nile.

Dr Matovu said in a bid to contain the epidemic, the district cholera task force has put up a screening and treatment centre at Namusaala Health Centre III in Busaana Sub-county.

He added that selling of different types of juice in the area has been banned at the moment while hand washing facilities have been reinstated in public places such as markets and towns, especially in Busaana.

Mr Stanley Moga, the in-charge at Namusaala Health Centre III on Monday said the four cholera patients who are admitted to the facility are undergoing treatment.

“UNICEF has boosted our efforts to fight the epidemic by donating to us two camping sites of a capacity of 20 patients each,” Mr Moga said, before adding; “In case the wards are fully occupied, we shall admit the patients in the tents.”

Mr Moga explained that with the help of Village Health Teams (VHTs), they are carrying out massive sensitisation of the communities on how to avoid catching the disease.

Mr Emmanuel Ainebyona, the Ministry of Health spokesperson, said they have given supplies to the district in form of kits, soap, jik and medical supplies to help in the fight against the disease.

The Kayunga RDC, Mr Moses Ddumba, who heads the district cholera task force, said they relocated the cholera treatment centre to Namusaala given the big number of patients at Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital.