The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The number of cholera cases in Moroto district has reached the 100 mark despite several interventions by Ministry of Health and World Health Organization-WHO.
On Friday, WHO delivered several items to the district comprising beds, drugs and water purification tablets among others to help combat the spread of the water borne disease.
The Health Ministry also handed over eight vehicles to assist with disease surveillance, sensitization and case management in communities.
Despite the efforts, Loputuk isolation center continues to receive more cases each day. Phillip Lotee, the in charge of Loputuk health centre III says cholera cases in the district have hit the 100 mark.
On Sunday, 18 new cases were admitted to the facility increasing the number to 102 cases. Of these, 67 have been discharged and 33 are still on admission.
Three persons died last week. Health workers say although the treatment center is doing it’s best to treat the cases, containing the outbreak could remain a challenge because most communities still lack access to clean water.
Lotee says unless community engagement is done right, the fight against cholera could take a little longer as the disease spreads to more villages due to lack of clean water.
At Natapara-Kocuk village where an index case was reported, our reporter established that a section of the community still uses water from the stream for domestic chores mainly washing and cooking.
This is due to the slow response on clean water provision by the district authorities and partners on WASH project.
Michael Erito, a resident of Natapara-kocuk has urged the local authorities to prioritize clean water provision to the over 2,000 residents who do not have access to clean water.
Mark Lotuk, the Natapara-kocuk village secretary says owing to the mass sensitization campaigns, the community has since improved on sanitation but clean water access remains an issue.
Last week, Corporation and Development and C&D repaired the borehole they built in Natapara-Kocuk village in Nadunget sub county.
However, the water was also found to contain bacterium that causes cholera. The C&D Field Coordinator, Kul Chandra said they have temporarily closed the water source until it’s disinfected.
The Moroto District Water Officer, Musa Lowot says his department is mapping boreholes that should be repaired immediately with support from partners.
However, health officials say they have distributed aqua tablets to all house-holds in the 14 affected villages.
Researchers have estimated that each year there are 1.3 million to 4.0 million and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide due to cholera.
******
URN
