Emergency Health Care Starts In Lira
Apr 13, 2003
THE state minister for health, Mike Mukula, has launched an emergency programme to treat internally displaced persons in camps.<br>
By Albert Ayiga Ondoga
THE state minister for health, Mike Mukula, has launched an emergency programme to treat internally displaced persons in camps.
The move is expected to avert a health catastrophe in Lira district.
Mukula mobilised over 200 medical personnel and the district health team from Lira and Gulu districts to participate in the mass treatment campaign in ten Internally Displaced People’s camps and other centres in Lira municipality.
Several doctors and medical supplies came from Gulu.
The centres in which the programme was launched were Starch Factory, Railway, Cultural centre, Church of God, Kirombe, Kicope, Ambalal, St Augustine, Te-Tugu and Lira sub-county.
Mukula urged the medical workers to provide dedicated service to save people’s lives in the country.
The programme code-named “Operation Life Saving-Lira district†was mainly for de-worming, immunisation, measles treatment and general checks of the people in camps.
Among those de-wormed were Lira municipality MP. Cecilia Ogwal, district Woman MP, Atim Ateng and Lira resident district commissioner, Charles Egou Engwau
“The health situation in the camps is pathetic. We cannot wait any single minute because our children will die,†Mukula said.
“The children were the most vulnerable and so must be immunised and de-wormed first.
He said the 90-day health strategic programme will be undertaken by the district health emergency initiative to improve the worsening situation.
“If these emergency drugs meant to benefit the IDPs are hoarded by any official, he or she must be arrested. If you see or hear of anybody, please don’t waste time but inform us immediately,†he said.
“People in the camps have no food resulting into malnutrition. Immunisation and de-worming should be stepped up because most children are pregnant with worms,†he said
Mukula said the biggest problem is malaria which must be tackled especially during the rainy season.
He said many people could die because of lack of nets to protect them.Ends
THE state minister for health, Mike Mukula, has launched an emergency programme to treat internally displaced persons in camps.
The move is expected to avert a health catastrophe in Lira district.
Mukula mobilised over 200 medical personnel and the district health team from Lira and Gulu districts to participate in the mass treatment campaign in ten Internally Displaced People’s camps and other centres in Lira municipality.
Several doctors and medical supplies came from Gulu.
The centres in which the programme was launched were Starch Factory, Railway, Cultural centre, Church of God, Kirombe, Kicope, Ambalal, St Augustine, Te-Tugu and Lira sub-county.
Mukula urged the medical workers to provide dedicated service to save people’s lives in the country.
The programme code-named “Operation Life Saving-Lira district†was mainly for de-worming, immunisation, measles treatment and general checks of the people in camps.
Among those de-wormed were Lira municipality MP. Cecilia Ogwal, district Woman MP, Atim Ateng and Lira resident district commissioner, Charles Egou Engwau
“The health situation in the camps is pathetic. We cannot wait any single minute because our children will die,†Mukula said.
“The children were the most vulnerable and so must be immunised and de-wormed first.
He said the 90-day health strategic programme will be undertaken by the district health emergency initiative to improve the worsening situation.
“If these emergency drugs meant to benefit the IDPs are hoarded by any official, he or she must be arrested. If you see or hear of anybody, please don’t waste time but inform us immediately,†he said.
“People in the camps have no food resulting into malnutrition. Immunisation and de-worming should be stepped up because most children are pregnant with worms,†he said
Mukula said the biggest problem is malaria which must be tackled especially during the rainy season.
He said many people could die because of lack of nets to protect them.Ends