Bundibugyo hospital on cholera outbreak alert

By Raymond Baguma  
                                          
Bundibugyo district referral hospital has set up an isolation centre to handle emergencies of cholera outbreaks following the influx of Congolese refugees in the country.

This comes after two suspected cases of cholera were admitted to Bundibugyo hospital. The suspects are Congolese children identified as Eliza Kyabusiko, and Ngonzi Zunguka.

Edmond Maisaba, the Bundibugyo hospital administrator said that a cholera outbreak was likely because of poor hygiene and open disposal of human waste by the refugees in the primary schools where they pitched camp.

“So far, there are only two. We are expecting others and we are trying to prepare the isolation ward if they come,” said Maisaba.

Fighting broke out early last week after a group of gunmen believed to be members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group raided the town of Kamango.

This forced over 65,000 people to flee and seek refuge in Bundibugyo district mainly through the Nyahuka and Busunga border posts. However, the Congolese army fought the gunmen and regained control of the area.

The fleeing families arrived with domestic animals that included goats, chicken, saucepans, living in squalid conditions at five primary schools within the district.

However, the refugees have since been relocated from the primary schools to a temporary transit camp set up by aid and relief agencies at Bubukwanga on land belonging to Uganda Prisons.

Despite this, some of the displaced persons have objected to the relocation to Bubukwanga, preferring to remain close to the border to monitor the security situation with hope that they will return to their homes when calm is restored