James Eriku
13 August 2008
Kitgum — The death toll from hepatitis E in northern Uganda has risen to 106 a week after the government and the World Health Organisation launched a Shs10 billion programme to bring the epidemic to an end.
Another 6,563 remain infected with the deadly viral disease, which broke out in northern Uganda late last year. Nine people have died over the last week bringing the death toll to 25 since July 17.
The WHO that has been supporting the district's Hepatitis E task force, in its recent statements, said there is a drastic decline in the infection rate in Kitgum, a report the authorities in the district dispute.
Authorities there say the district remains the worst-hit and the disease, which is spread by poor hygiene, has claimed 50 lives in Madi Opei Sub-county, Lamwo County, where the outbreak was first reported.
The Director for Clinical Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Kenya Mugisha said the death toll now stands at 106.
"The cases of deaths and new infections are almost half of what we have been registering in the past and the situation is getting much better because of increased awareness, distribution of clean containers for water collection and storage and other supplies, construction of more pit latrines among other interventions," he said.
Kitgum Chairman Komakech John Ogwok told journalists yesterday that the continued spread of hepatitis has forced the council to enact bylaws aimed at controlling the disease. Some of them include; banning the use of water pots and drinking kwete, a local fermented drink believed to be a prime means of transmission.
Hepatitis E is an acute viral disease that can cause liver failure.
The virus is transmitted to humans through consumption of drink or food contaminated with faecal matter. It can kill within a week if not controlled in time.
The disease first struck Kitgum in October 2007, but has since spread to Gulu, Pader and Yumbe districts.
Mr Ogwok, who is also the chairperson of the district Hepatitis Task Force, claimed jerricans and chlorine provided under the government/WHO emergency programme have not helped to check the spread of the disease.
The health worker-turned-politician also dismissed claims in the area that the disease can spread through sexual intercourse. "This disease has nothing to do with any one's sexual life," he said.
"Having sex with an infected person does not lead to infection of the other person. It is a misconception by many people out there."
He warned that those who resort to local herbs instead of going to health centres for treatment risk succumbing to the disease.
The Ministry of Health recently allocated Shs25 million to support sensitisation programmes in the district but the money has not been sent to date, according to officials.
Meanwhile, the Deputy RDC, Mr Sylvester Opira, said efforts were under way to arrest and prosecute residents who have refused to construct latrines in their homes.
"We are pleased that with the district-wide mobilisation carried out to fight the disease, a good number of homes now have latrines though a few others are still hesitant to have them. We shall soon start working on them," said Mr Opira.
Agoro border market, one of the busiest markets at the Uganda-Southern Sudan border was closed recently due to lack of latrines as a way of combating Hepatitis E in the area.
Uganda has recently been hit by a string of epidemics including; ebola, meningitis, cholera, bubonic plague in West Nile and yellow fever. A rare strain of cholera ravaged eastern Uganda in June, killing 28 of the 350 people who were infected.
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