
In this file representational photo, Mpox patients await for consultation in the Mpox isolation ward at the Kavumu Hospital in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo, on August 29, 2024. PHOTO/ REUTERS
Joan, a 26-year-old teacher, first noticed unusual rashes on an eight-year-old pupil in her class during a physical education lesson after all the pupils removed shirts, but dismissed it as a mild skin condition.
“The child had small, raised bumps on his arms, chest and neck. They all seemed scratched a lot, but I didn’t think it was serious,” she says.
"When the sister came to pick him up later in the evening, I advised them to take him to a physician. I also suggested the boy stays home for some days to recover since he would scratch himself throughout the lessons and would hardly concentrate.”
But Joan's suspicions that all was not well with her kicked in after a week.
The symptoms, including a high fever, headaches, and rashes, persisted.
"I first thought it was flu because of the aches and fatigue from my work routine with the little ones. But I soon noticed more rashes on my arms and face. I then decided to head to a clinic. A medical check-up at Kasangati Health Centre IV ruled out malaria, but one of the medics warned me to be cautious with my interactions.
He also advised that I test for any zoonotic disease transmitted through close contact with an infected animal, person or contaminated materials.
But I disregarded the advice, although I often watched adverts about such diseases on TV as announced by the Ministry of Health.
I reassured myself that Mpox was a disease for people in our border towns.
Going down with Mpox
A few days after the visit to the clinic, I woke up with rashes all over my body, with some mild pelvic pain too.
I looked miserable and I feared to appear in public and asked a colleague to take over my class.
I instructed my housemaid to go to a nearby clinic and describe the symptoms to the clinician so he could prescribe me some tablets. I had hoped I would be back on my feet after about three days of treatment.
I was given Ampiclox, paracetamol and one other tablet. All these, plus a skincare tube, set me back by some Shs100,000.
Upon inquiry, my pupil’s parents disclosed that their child had recently been playing with another child, whose father and daughter had similar skin problems and were taken for isolation. I remember holding my pupil’s hand and comforting him during break time because of the discomfort he suffered. I also helped clean their faces when they spilled food. I didn’t know I was exposing myself to a highly contagious viral disease.
I revisited the Health ministry’s X, formerly Twitter account, and also consulted a friend - a doctor at Mulago hospital.
I was devastated when my friend confirmed an outbreak of Mpox in Wakiso District, where I lived. He advised me
to isolate or go to the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe.
He also helped to secure an ambulance to deliver me to Entebbe. Emotionally, financially drained At Entebbe Grade B hospital, I was immediately isolated. I was both emotionally and financially drained.
I stopped teaching and stayed home for three weeks, and I couldn’t interact with my family.
I also worried about infecting my colleagues and other pupils. My most affected parts were the hands, face and
chest. I felt a lot of pain in the pelvis in the first weeks.
I spent about Shs400,000, with my sisters buying all the medicines in the first two weeks.
I then resorted to my savings, which are now overdrawn without any assurance that I will get back to work when the new school term opens next week.
My experience in the hospital became more bearable when I compared my situation with that of other patients. No
doubt, I was in pain but the condition of some of my female colleagues was scary. They had blisters, wounds and some required operations on their private parts.
My school faced criticism over my illness with the viral disease. But no additional cases were reported among the
teachers and pupils.
The school has since introduced standard operating procedures (SOPs), including not touching each other’s
bodily fluids or sweat. Some students were moved from boarding to day section in the last weeks of the third term after their parents feared that they too could catch the disease.
They also blamed the outbreak on poor hygiene facilities at the school, which was not true.”
Last week, I called my boss to inquire about my return to school, but he said no one can accept that I have fully re- covered to resume teaching.
All my friends no longer want to pick up my calls because they know I no longer work, and they think I am probably calling them for financial support.
My children are now living with their aunties because as a single mother, I can no longer sustain their needs. We need better handwashing facilities, and teachers should be trained to identify and isolate children showing signs or symptoms of Mpox, which presents with rash and other symptoms that include flu-like illnesses such as fever, headache, and malaise.