Jane Nafula
7 February 2008
Kampala — The Director General of Health Services, Dr Sam Zaramba, has blamed the persistent outbreaks of cholera in Kampala on City Council's failure to enforce by-laws on sanitation.
Dr Zaramba told Daily Monitor yesterday that the sanitation situation in most of the areas where cholera cases have been reported is appalling mainly due to low latrine coverage.
Six cholera cases were last week reported in the slums of Kamyokya in Central Division and Kawempe Division. The patients are recieving treatment at Mulago Cholera camp and so far, five of the six patients have been discharged.
"The situation is not good at all. We are lucky it is not raining heavily and when it starts doing so, the situation could become worse," he said.
"KCC is aware of the sanitation problems in some of the areas where cholera cases have been identified. We have communicated to them but they have not fully responded to these problems."
The latrine coverage in some of the affected areas in Kampala is as low as 20 per cent, far below the national average of 60 per cent. In such places some people ease themselves in polythene bags and dump the stuff in garbage pits or water channels. Those with limited space empty pit latrines in the streams and drainage systems.
Dr Zaramba urged KCC to act before the situation gets out of hand.
"We request KCC authorities and the division heads in Kampala to make sure that sanitation in affected places is improved," he said.
The Director for Health Services in Kampala, Dr Mesearch Mubiru said cholera is a countrywide problem and that it doesn't affect Kampala alone.
"We are doing better than other districts. Cholera has been so frequent in districts including Arua and Bushenyi," Dr Mubiru said.
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