Four die of cholera in Nebbi

By BENEDICT OKETHWENGU   

Four people have been confirmed dead and 39 others admitted following a fresh cholera outbreak in Panyimur sub-county, Nebbi district.

This brings to 54 the number of people killed by cholera and over 1900 cases registered, since the first outbreak was reported in the district in March last year.

The in charge Dei Health Centre III in Panyimur sub-county Henry Kimu said three of the dead are Congolese nationals.

He identified them as Jacinto Ageno, a resident of Dei village in Panyimur and the three Congolese Japier Chothembu 34, Ageno Okumu 42 and Alphonse Berocan.

Kimu said Wednesday that the first case was reported at the health center on May 24, 2013 after Vivian Oryem 4,  a resident of Dei Village, was admitted at the health centre showing clinical signs and symptoms similar to  the disease.

Kimu however, said the situation is being worsened because the health center has run out of the Intravenous (IV) fluids and oral dehydration salts (ORS).

"The challenge is that we are out of IV fluids and ORS, which are the core medicines for cholera treatment and it seems they are equally out of stock in the district," Kimu said.

Kitts Ubima, the Nebbi district health educator confirmed the development, saying that the district is looking forward to pitch camp in the sub-county to engage in a massive campaign on better health practices.
"It is true we have lost four due to cholera at Dei health center III and we are looking forward to beginning a massive campaign on better health practices," he said.

He noted that, they have written to the ministry of health for intervention but they are yet to receive a feedback.

"At the moment patient are buying their own fluids, because we have run out the fluids and yet we have not received any communication from the ministry of health about any possibility of supply of the fluids," Ubima said.

 Dr Jakor Oryema, Nebbi district health officer recently, said on average a cholera patient can consume about 18 to 50 bottles of IV fluid.  An IV fluid costs about sh1800 in a private clinic, which he said many cannot afford.

The latest revelation also came just less than months of yet another outbreak that left one people dead and over 20 cases infected by the disease in April this year.

Ubima attributed the persistent outbreak of the disease to poor hygiene in homes and poor safe water chain in the district.

But, Betty Adima, the Nebbi Resident District Commissioner said that, it a big shame that cholera treatment is the one consuming part of the district budget.

She asked the health official and local leaders to ensure that, they address the circumstances leading to the persistence outbreak of the disease in the district.

"I feel perturbed that treatment part of the health budget of the district largely goes in the treatment of Cholera, it high time that we wake up do something to clear cholera out of the district," Adima said.

 But Serephine Alia, the Nebbi CAO attributed it to laxity on the side of the community to have sanitary facilities.

"We have a community who do not listen to advice, otherwise my team we have tried to educate the community about proper health hygiene and practices," Alia said.

Cholera is an infection in the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse, watery diarrhea and vomiting. Its transmission occurs primarily by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the feces of an infected person.

Latrine coverage in Nebbi has declined from 78% to 73% in the last five years; a factor many argued could have been the major boost for cholera outbreak in the district.