By Spy Uganda
Kotido: In July 2020, Kotido District Health Officer, Dr. Serino Acar reported that they had registered 11 suspected cholera cases and dispatched their samples to the Public Health Laboratory in Kampala for testing.
After confirming the outbreak in the district, DHO formed a Response Taskforce to oversee management and control of the disease and also set up two treatment centers at Kanawat health centre III in West division and at Kotido health centre IV.
However, as we report today, unfortunately in the same district, eleven people have succumbed to the disease [Cholera] and 100 admitted at Kotido Health Centre IV, fighting for their lives.
Mr Joseph Orisa, the Kotido District Information Officer, said the disease which broke out few weeks ago is caused by low latrine coverage in the district which stands at only 4 per cent.
“We are in a terrible situation and to make things worse, Kotido District has no hospital, what we have is a health centre with only two medical doctors,” he said, adding that the most affected areas include; Panyangara, Rengen, Nakapelimoru, and Romrom sub counties in Western Division of Kotido Municipality.
Mr Orisa, said the Kotido Health Centre IV lacks essential equipment like specialised beds and fluids. Mr Cerino Achar, the Kotido District Health Officer, said they set up an isolation centre, where they are handling cholera cases from, but appealed to the development partners to support the district.
“We have been sensitizing our communities to use pit latrines but the response is still very low. We shall continue sensitizing them about the importance of using pit latrines and drinking boiled water,” he said.
Mr Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Senior Public Relations Officer Ministry of Health, confirmed the outbreak Cholera in Kotido District, saying the ministry has already dispatched the drugs and a health team to put the situation under control.
What is Cholera?
Cholera Causes
Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, is usually found in food or water contaminated by feces from a person with the infection. Common sources include:
- Municipal water supplies
- Ice made from municipal water
- Foods and drinks sold by street vendors
- Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes
- Raw or undercooked fish and seafood caught in waters polluted with sewage
Cholera Symptoms
Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection. Often, symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious. About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. Although many infected people may have minimal or no symptoms, they can still contribute to spread of the infection.
