A couple’s battle with elephantiasis

The fight against stigma is not all lost for a couple in Kitwe Village, Busiriba Sub-county.

The battle has been a joint one by Mauda Birungi and her husband Godfrey Bitungwa.

Birungi cannot lift both her swollen legs and is often helped by her husband to move around. This help has helped ease the agony of stigma and lessened the pain.

The couple got married about three years ago when Birungi was already battling elephantiasis.

“I married this lady about three years well aware of her health problem. Her relatives told me that they had failed with both medical and herbal treatment,” Bitungwa says, adding, “I do everything for her at home including cooking.”

Birungi, who spends the day sitting on a mat at the veranda of their home says her husband has been her greatest comforter.

“In this village, some people have rejected me but others like but my husband is there for me, so I don’t mind,” says Birungi.

On Sundays, the couple goes to the nearby Kitwe Church. The journey to church is slow as Birungi is helped by her husband to walk using two sticks.

Mr Eriya Mujungu, the deputy resident district commissioner of Kamwenge, has asked the residents to wear shoes and keep good hygiene as one of the preventive measures for the disease.

Residents of Kamwenge, a district known for its high poverty levels, may not afford to buy shoes.
Research on disease

There is no comprehensive research that has been done on the disease in Uganda. The Vector Control Division of the Ministry of the Ministry of Health says it is still soliciting for funds so that a research can be done to ascertain prevalence of the disease. However, 54 districts in the western axis and all highlands are affected and are at risk. These include; Teso, Lango, Acholi, West Nile, Karamoja, Bundibudyo, Kisoro and Mbale. It is only the central region which is free of the disease.