Trachoma outbreak reported in Karamoja

By Olandason Wanyama

A severe outbreak of Trachoma has been reported in Karamoja with at least 50,000 people in dire need of urgent eye surgery to prevent blindness.

The disclosure was made by the State Minister of Primary Health Care Sarah Opendi in Moroto town.

She was officially launching the Karamoja and Busoga Sub Region trachoma elimination programme.

“At least one out of every six people in Karamoja has trachoma,” she noted.

Opendi added that that this makes Karamoja the second most Trachoma endemic sub region in the world after the Upper Nile state of South Sudan.

The Minister attributed the outbreak on the lack of toilet facilities in the sub region adding that a small percentage had facilities for refusal disposal.

“Low latrine coverage leads to indiscriminate disposal of human excreta which promotes the breeding of flies,” Opendi observed.

She also said crowded conditions in the family unit increases exposure to infection through close contacts.
Others include sharing of clothes, beddings, handkerchiefs and towels.