Tsetse fly scare alive and well

Apr 20, 2003

EVERYONE knows the numerous escapades that go with childhood. <br>I recall the small huts we used to build when we were children. The structures were made of whatever materials came our way as we loitered in the neighbourhood.

By George Bita

EVERYONE knows the numerous escapades that go with childhood.

I recall the small huts we used to build when we were children. The structures were made of whatever materials came our way as we loitered in the neighbourhood.

However, luck came out of the blue when some people we considered good samaritans provided us with ready-made huts expertly woven out of blue and black cloth.

These ‘huts’ could be seen hanging conspicuously from numerous trees in the area. It was more like Father Christmas had visited this part of Busoga and brought the much-cherished Christmas gifts for youngsters. We definitely made a dash for the hanging offerings.

But since good things do not last for long, our excitement soon waned when most of the children in the neighbourhood got beatings from their parents. The crime was destruction of tsetse fly traps hung up to control sleeping sickness.

Over two decades later, the insect traps still dot the countryside in Kigulu North constituency in Iganga district. The only difference this time is that the trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) control officials have realised the need of massive and aggressive sensitisation of the population in areas where the traps have been put.

Dr. Abbas Kakembo, the principal medical officer, and regional co-ordinator of Farming in Tsetse Controlled Areas (FITCA) of Uganda says project’s main goal is to improve the welfare of the people in regions infested with tsetse flies and hence sleeping sickness in human beings and nagana in cattle.

Kakembo says sh300m has been earmarked for 12 districts nationwide under this project aimed at controlling tsetse fly-transmitted diseases in man and livestock. He adds that two sleeping sickness epidemic control centres are to be set up soon in Busesa and Irongo counties of Iganga district.

“Sleeping sickness is prevalent only in 36 African countries, all found south of the Sahara. Uganda is among the top five affected countries in Africa. Others are Sudan, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” he says. Dr. Faustine Maiso, in charge of sleeping sickness control at the ministry of health says 60 million people are at risk of infection.

“Each year, about 300,000-500,000 patients are registered at health centres in affected countries. Of these 50,000 die,” Maiso says. He explains that the disease is mainly affecting the rural poor population, as the tsetse flies detest the noise and tall buildings in towns opting for the quiet environment in villages.

“Lantana camara (locally called kapanga) is a favourite habitat for the tsetse flies. That is why in the 1920s when mongoota (sleeping sickness) fever had first struck Busoga, a massive campaign was started to cut the vegetation that provided the insects with a conducive home,” says Maiso.

He adds that an estimated 250,000 people, mostly living near the forested southern areas of Busoga, near Lake Victoria (now Mayuge district) lost their lives to the disease.

According to Maiso, FITCA has initiated a way to sustain the sleeping sickness epidemic and by so doing controlling it. “Our strategy in the ministry of health includes setting up a sleeping sickness taskforce and a national Trypanosomiasis control council geared at achieving prescribed goals of disease control,” he says.

Maiso says World Health Organisation (WHO) has pledged to supply free drugs for treatment of sleeping sickness over a period of five years.

“The ministry is of course grateful and doing its part. Under the arrangements, the Namungalwe health centre is now to become a national sleeping sickness training and referral centre so that the action is brought right here at the battlefront,” Maiso says.

Henry Obayi, in charge of trypanosomiasis control in Iganga district says six patients are currently admitted at Namungalwe health unit. “We have already sprung into action by laying traps aimed at breaking the chain of transmission in an effort to stop the spread of the disease. The bright blue and black colours the traps are made of easily lure the tsetse flies in to be killed by chemicals,” Obayi says.

He adds that the chemical, deltamethyrin is put in to kill the tsetse fly although it is effective for only six to eight months. “A litre of the chemical costs 200 dollars which is enough to treat 300 insect traps. A finished one costs sh15,000,” says Obayi. He says 1,500 traps have so far been put in Bulongo sub-county in Luuka to curb the threat in that part of the district.

He says tsetse flies are vectors that get the trypanosome (parasite causing sleeping sickness) by biting an infected person or cattle that they then pass over to healthy ones.

“The flies feed on blood which they must get from humans or animals. This scenario just fuels the spread of the fever,” Obayi says. He identified the type that causes sleeping sickness as glossina fuscipes and the one responsible for nagana in cattle is glossina pallidepes.

“Glossina pallidepes is scarce in Busoga although our team recently discovered it in Namunumya near Busembatia town,” he says. Francis Mukama, Kigulu North MP says sleeping sickness is a disease that affects his voters, hence the urgent need to come to their aid.

“We pester these people for votes and it would be bad if we ran away when they need our help. Sleeping sickness does not only cause poverty, but if not controlled, can wipe out entire communities,” he says.

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