Cissy Makumbi
23 July 2008
Amuru — Lamogi Sub-county headquarters lack adequate sanitation facilities even as Hepatitis E ravages the region. The Senior Health Assistant in Lamogi, Mr John Richard Odong, has asked the Amuru District Health Secretary, to close the sub-county headquarters for lack of adequate sanitary facilities.
"The closure is due to failure to protect the employees and the community against infectious diseases that may break out due to poor sanitation," Mr Odong said.
He said he warned the sub- county chief three times, but they did not heed and so he decided to act. "This sub- county has been operating here since 1996 up to date but without sanitary facilities," he said. According to the Public Health Act, such an institution is unsuitable for human habitation.
"The closure is also aimed at protecting the community from the deadly Hepatitis E that has hit the region leaving 90 people dead in Kitgum District. The disease spreads where there is poor sanitation," he said.
The Sub-county Chief, Ms Lilly Adong, said they will dig a pit latrine as fast as they can to improve hygiene in the community.
"We have been using facilities of the former Parabong School and we have been maintaining it," she said, adding "We would be having all the facilities in place, but we missed the local government development grant due to failure to meet some requirements".
Amuru Health Secretary Gilbert Olannya said," he has given the sub-county headquarters two months to attain the required sanitation standards.
He said sub-county chief and her team should be the best examples in the community as far as sanitation is concerned.
The Acting District Health Officer, Dr Elisa Mulwani, said they registered one case of Hepatitis E at Parabong camp in Amuru, in Lamogi Sub County.
"One child has been confirmed to be having Hepatitis E, according to the lab report from Entebbe and the patient is admitted at Lacor Hospital for treatment," he said.
Dr Mulwani urged the community to always work closely with the medical personnel because the deadly Hepatitis E exists in the district.
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