Cholera kills 6 in Butaleja, leaves 92 admitted

Paul Watala

Six people have been confirmed dead and over 92 others admitted at Nabiganda health Centre IV following cholera outbreak in Butaleja district.

District Health officials told the New Vision that cholera cases are on the rise, adding that 92 people are admitted at Nabiganda Health Centre IV.

Butaleja District Health Officer Dr. John Matovu revealed that the number had risen from one death since Easter Monday to 6 now, adding that 92 admitted.

He said that the first suspected case was reported in Nabiganda trading Centre in Kachonga Sub County, adding that it has now spread to number of sub counties.

"Members of the public are informed that Butaleja district is now among other districts that have been hit by cholera out break.
In the beginning we recorded 25 cases and now it rose to 92 admitted with 6 deaths," Matovu said.

He said that isolation Centre has been opened up at Nabiganda Health Centre IV to handle the cholera cases, adding that they are facing challenge of drugs and means to contain it from spreading to other sub counties.

Matovu identified the most affected sub counties as Kachonga and Mazimasa and attributed it cause to poor disposal of fecal due to poor toilet coverage, adding that communities also do not boil their water before drinking.

"Pit latrine coverage in Butaleja is poor because over 85% of the district is water logged that makes it had to dig pit latrines. Pit latrine coverage is less than 70% and most people use nearby bushes as latrines," he said.

He said that general person hygiene among big number of families in Butaleja district is poor which he said could also be main contributing factor.

Butaleja Resident District Commissioner Richard Gulume suspects that the epidemic could have spread to Butaleja from the neighboring districts in Bugisu sub-region where it was first reported.

"The district security committee has set up a task force to start field operations to sensitize residents on hygiene and sanitation. This is one of the ways of containing the epidemic in the district," Gulume said.

Gulume said district has notified ministry of health and world Health organization about the cholera outbreak.

Gulume added that they have also banned food vending along the roadsides in the district.

Butaleja district has joined other districts that have been hit by cholera out break and these include Busia, Tororo, Mbale, Sironko and Bulambuli.

Juliet Nahamya who operates a restaurant in Nabiganda trading Centre blamed the outbreak of the epidemic on to lack of public toilet and safe water in the trading centers.

"Most people here take contaminated water without boiling. We do not have any good source of clean drinking water but we poor pit latrine coverage," Nahamya said.

She said the way cholera is spreading worrying, adding that most homes do not have sanitary facilities like pi latrines, bathing shelters and plate stands. People here hardly wash their hands after visiting pit latrine in even the bush," she said.

Cholera is an infection caused by the bacteria and affects the intestines. The main symptoms are watery diarrhea and vomiting this may result in dehydration and in severe cases grayish-bluish skin.

Transmission occurs primarily by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the fecal of an infected person, including one with no apparent symptoms.