By Frank Mugabi
Disability charity, Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC) has donated medical equipment worth sh7m to reinforce the treatment of Ear, Nose and Throat(ENT) infections in two West Nile districts.
Speaking recently at the hand-over ceremony at Rajja Conference Hall in Nebbi town, the Nebbi USDC field coordinator, Sarah Namukasa, said the kits were allocated to 20 ENT specialists from various health centres in Nebbi and Yumbe districts.
The specialists also underwent a USDC-funded two-week course for professional health workers on basic ENT care and prevention of deafness and hearing impairment.
Namukasa said many infected children were not getting adequate treatment because health workers lacked both basic knowledge and equipment to manage ENT infections.
The national coordinator for prevention of deafness in the Ministry of Health Dr. Stanley Bubikire said 10% of people in Masindi have hearing impairments according to a survey conducted in the district in 2001.
“This calls for more attention in areas of ENT infections and disabilities and the ministry of health commends USDC for this training and equipping.” Bubikire said.Ends