Cholera centres delay to close
Sep 22, 2008
THE current heavy rains in the eastern region have delayed the closure of the cholera treatment centres in districts that were hit by the epidemic.
By Daniel Edyegu
THE current heavy rains in the eastern region have delayed the closure of the cholera treatment centres in districts that were hit by the epidemic.
The health ministry in May established cholera treatment centres in the worst-hit districts of Butaleja, Pallisa, Mbale and Manafwa in order to contain the disease. The disease killed 32 people of the 482 cases that were recorded as having contracted it.
The affected districts had planned to close the treatment centres 30 days after the last case was reported, but decided to keep them open even though no case had been reported for nearly six weeks.
Dr. Kenneth Mweru, the Butaleja health officer, said Nabiganda treatment centre would stay open for the next four weeks. “It’s still difficult to predict what may happen in case these rains persist. It’s these very rains that caused the flooding of River Manafwa and sparked off the disease, so we can’t take chances,†Mweru said.
Dr. Francis Abwaimo, the Mbale health officer, said Busiu treatment centre would remain open for another month.
“We are monitoring the rains because there are reports that they may cause floods.â€
THE current heavy rains in the eastern region have delayed the closure of the cholera treatment centres in districts that were hit by the epidemic.
The health ministry in May established cholera treatment centres in the worst-hit districts of Butaleja, Pallisa, Mbale and Manafwa in order to contain the disease. The disease killed 32 people of the 482 cases that were recorded as having contracted it.
The affected districts had planned to close the treatment centres 30 days after the last case was reported, but decided to keep them open even though no case had been reported for nearly six weeks.
Dr. Kenneth Mweru, the Butaleja health officer, said Nabiganda treatment centre would stay open for the next four weeks. “It’s still difficult to predict what may happen in case these rains persist. It’s these very rains that caused the flooding of River Manafwa and sparked off the disease, so we can’t take chances,†Mweru said.
Dr. Francis Abwaimo, the Mbale health officer, said Busiu treatment centre would remain open for another month.
“We are monitoring the rains because there are reports that they may cause floods.â€