Nakapiripirit battles cholera outbreak

Nakapiripirit

Seven people have died and about 20 others are admitted at Bokora Health Centre IV and Nakapiripirit Health Centre II following an outbreak of cholera.

The dead include Rose Lowalan, 48, Annet Lokwa, 52, Peter Kiyonga, 39, and Moru, 34. According to the District Health Officer, Dr John Anguzo, the disease broke out in Nakapripirit Town Council, Nabunet, Lobulyo, Katanga and Nangoronit parish five days ago. He revealed that although treatment has started and is going on well, most of the homesteads have been abandoned, villages deserted and it has become increasingly rare to come across people walking in groups for fear of catching the disease.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera owing to poor hygiene. “Our people don’t believe in using pit latrines and most people in the town council don’t have latrines. They ease themselves in the bushes,” said Dr Anguzo. He said a team of health workers at the district had been deployed to work in Bokora Health Centre IV which is the main centre for cholera patients.

According to the LC5 chairman, Mr John Nangiro, authorities have banned the sale of food and fruit juice on the roadsides and in the markets. In 2008, cholera hit districts of eastern Uganda killing about 33.