Millions of Ugandans suffer from food poisoning annually

By Patrick Jaramogi

UGANDA is experiencing an increase in food related diseases. Health minister Christine Ondoa said confirmed the increase which she attributed lack of adherence to food safety.

Ondoa noted that at least 1.3m Ugandans are diagnosed with foodborne diseases across the country annually. This represents 14 per cent of all the diseases treated each year.

“Uganda is facing a serious issue of foodborne diseases. This has continued to be a serious public health concern to government,” said Ondoa in a speech read for her by Dr. Denis Lwamafa the Director General Health Services.

Foodborne disease popularly referred to as food poisoning is any illness resulting from the consumption of contaminated food.

These diseases include cholera, dysentery, acute and persistent non-bloody diarrhea, intestinal worms, typhoid and paratyphoid fevers and recently Hepatitis E.

This was during the launch of the National Foodborne Burden of Disease Study held at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala. National Drug Authority is implementing the study.

Uganda is among the four countries in the world selected by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to undertake this study. Others are Albania, Japan and Thailand.

Ondoa said Foodborne illnesses reduce productivity, disrupt the national economy and threaten human health exacerbating poverty.

She said the frequent outbreaks of human anthrax have occurred due to consumption of meat from infected animal carcasses from the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kasese and Bushenyi districts (2008 – 2009).

In Uganda other cases of food poisoning have occurred following consumption of packaged drinks especially alcoholic beverages found to be contaminated with Methanol, recently in Mubende, Kasese, Kampala and Kabale Districts,’ she said.