Busoga leaders appeal for support to manage mpox cases

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BUSOGA - Leaders in Uganda's eastern sub-region of Busoga have said there is inadequate support towards the management of mpox cases in the area.

As of Friday (October 11), the number of confirmed cases in Busoga was 12, according to Dr. Alfred Yayi, the director of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.

Of these, 10 cases have been recorded in Mayuge district (with 17 contacts) while Iganga district and Jinja city have each registered one case and eight contacts.

In the wake of the rising number of mpox cases, Yayi said vigilance is important.
Mpox (previously known as monkeypox) is a viral disease caused by an orthopox virus called monkeypox virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

It spreads mainly through close contact with someone who has mpox.

The UN health agency says an infected person may have a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever.

In Uganda, the most number of confirmed mpox cases have been in the districts of Nakasongola, Kampala, Wakiso and Mayuge.

Kasese, Mityana, Amuru, Kagadi, Nakaseke, Adjumani, Mukono, Jinja and Iganga — with much lower numbers — have recorded at least one case.

Richard Gulume, the Jinja resident city commissioner, said that as heads of the emergency task force, they have observed a lack of support in designated isolation centres.

The mpox cases in Mayuge are being managed at Kityerera Health Centre 3 while Jinja Hospital and Iganga Hospital have each established an isolation area.

Gulume, who is also the dean of resident commissioners in Busoga, said a meeting they convened recently agreed that patients and health workers are struggling in the wake of the mpox outbreak.

He subsequently petitioned the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African (EAC) Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, citing the lack of food and bedding for the patients, and protective gear for health workers.

He petitioned the minister during the commissioning of two Jinja Regional Referral Hospital projects worth sh6.5 billion.

Gulume said that without protective gear, health workers might fear attending to mpox patients.

“Your Busoga is not safe Maama. Your children are not faring well in the isolation centres, they need government support,” he told Kadaga.

Gulume also talked of the need to improve mobility of the monitoring or surveillance teams in terms of facilitation and fuel.

On her part, Kadaga urged the people of Busoga to remain vigilant and avoid shaking hands and hugging as one way of preventing the spread of mpox.

On managing isolation centres, Dr Charles Olaro, who is in charge of curative services at the health ministry, said support was being prepared to ensure that the patients are linked to their respective case management teams.

Mid-last week, the British High Commission in Kampala announced that the UK will provide £1 million (sh4.8 billion) to Baylor College of Medicine and the Infectious Disease Institute to support Uganda’s response to the current mpox outbreak. 

The support will be aligned with the Ugandan government’s overall mpox response plan, including surveillance, risk communication and community engagement.