Uganda has previously been hit with deadly diseases like Ebola
Residents hailing from Namutumba district are living in fear after reports emerged that a strange disease has claimed lives of seventy children within one month.
The revelation was made by Paul Akamba, the Busiki County MP, during the plenary sitting in which he told Parliament that the children urinate and vomit blood for two days before passing on, symptoms that have left the doctors puzzled.
“Namutumba district and specifically Busiki County has been hit by a strange disease whereby children below 12years are being attacked by that strange disease. They urinate blood for two days, they cough blood for two days, and they become anemic and end up dying,” Akamba said.
He added: “In a spell of over a month, we have lost 70 children and up to now, the doctors in the district are still puzzled, they don’t know what to do and I am afraid that this disease may spread throughout the entire country.”
Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance condoled with the families that have lost their children and promised to investigate the matter and report back to Parliament.
“Ordinarily, the District Health Officer should have got in touch with the Ministry of Health and their team would have gone to the ground to assess the situation. So Akamba would give the number of the DHO to get more facts and also call the Director General of Health Services whether they know and if there are any steps taken and if there is any useful information, I will come back and report to the House,” said Baryomunsi.
After consultations, Minister Baryomunsi informed Parliament that although MP Akamba had raised the issue with the District Health Officer of Namutumba, he hadn’t taken step to check the situation and inform the Ministry of Health.
The Minister said: “From the political leadership, it is true children are dying? I have spoken to the Minister of Health and she has said that no report has come from the District and she promised to link with DHO and a team will be sent.”
However, his remarks infuriated Deputy Speaker Among who ordered Government to take action on the DHO for being negligent.
“Can you also take action on the DHO because we don’t want this laissez-faire civil servants,” said Among.
Minister Baryomunsi replied, “We shall follow it up because that isn’t how we are trained as doctors because even if it is only one death, you are supposed to leave what you are doing and make sure you attend to it, so action will be taken.”
Uganda has been home to deadly diseases like Ebola and nodding disease which to date has left scientists puzzled on its cause after claiming many lives in Northern Uganda.
