A team of health workers from the Ministry Of Health are in Mbale district to boost the fight against the Cholera epidemic which is threatening to escalate to the entire Bugisu sub region.
Sister Jennifer Wandawa, the Mbale district disease surveillance coordinator, says the disease has already been reported in Sironko, Bulambuli, Bududa, Butaleja, Pallisa and Manafwa districts. Some patients are being treated at the Cholera isolation and treatment center in Mbale.
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Sister Wandawa attributes the spread to cross-border movements. Meanwhile, John Bosco Waniaye, the District Health Officer insists that the community members are still adamant to observe good hygiene and sanitation which he says is the major cause of the escalation.
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Sister Wandawa says whereas the district has tried to contain the situation since the disease was first reported in February, they still a challenge of community mobilization on sanitation and hygiene and response to suspected cases.
She says they have learnt that several people are dying of cholera within the communities and are not being reported.
She accordingly appealed to the ministry to send some health workers to boost those on the ground in Mbale.
Richard Nduhura, the State Minister for Health and General Duties told Uganda Radio Network in a telephone interview on Tuesday that the cholera outbreak in Mbale seems to be reaching alarming levels with several deaths in the communities unreported.
He said that a team of health workers with equipments and drugs to help in the fight against Cholera have been dispatched to Mbale. The Minister says registering even one case in another district means a lot given the high transmission rate of the disease.
The death toll in Mbale district has increased to 21 with a total of 303 cases registered.
