Water-borne diseases hit northern Uganda
Jul 14, 2005
KAMPALA, Thursday – A lack of water in war-ravaged northern Uganda has caused an increase in water-borne diseases, the medical charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)-Holland, said on Monday.<br>
KAMPALA, Thursday – A lack of water in war-ravaged northern Uganda has caused an increase in water-borne diseases, the medical charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)-Holland, said on Monday.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps in Lira district are living on less than three litres of water per person per day, MSF said in a statement.
“The internationally acceptable standards are 15 litres per person per day,†Peter Muller, head of mission for MSF Kampala, told IRIN while on a visit in Kitgum.
MSF said data showed that diarrhoea, at 12% of cases, was the second most common ailment after malaria, while 6% of patients had worms.
Despite the recent rise in Lira’s IDP population from 120,000 to 170,000 after people moved from camps near the main town of Lira to rural camps closer to their villages, district authorities have made no major improvements to water supply.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps in Lira district are living on less than three litres of water per person per day, MSF said in a statement.
“The internationally acceptable standards are 15 litres per person per day,†Peter Muller, head of mission for MSF Kampala, told IRIN while on a visit in Kitgum.
MSF said data showed that diarrhoea, at 12% of cases, was the second most common ailment after malaria, while 6% of patients had worms.
Despite the recent rise in Lira’s IDP population from 120,000 to 170,000 after people moved from camps near the main town of Lira to rural camps closer to their villages, district authorities have made no major improvements to water supply.