More typhoid cases registered in Kampala

Feb 26, 2015

A total of 560 people in Kampala have been identified with typhoid, up from 303 confirmed three days ago.


By Agnes Nantambi & Juliet Waiswa

KAMPALA - A total of 560 people have been diagnosed with typhoid, up from 303 confirmed three days ago.

The victims are mainly being attended to at the Kisenyi Health Center IV which is the designated treatment centre.

The director of public health and environment, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Dr. David Serukka said Kisenyi Health Centre IV had registered 58 patients.

He added that the figures are likely to increase as most people were aware and are flocking the health facility for treatment.

The ministry in a statement issued on Tuesday maintained that two people had so far died of typhoid in the city centre.

Other reports however said another three people who had been diagnosed with typhoid at Kisenyi Health Centre in Kampala had died in the last one week.

The ministry of health publicist, Rukia Nakamatte stressed that investigations were ongoing, but the disease so far had been isolated from nine of the patients.

“The patients have responded well to the ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin treatment, raising hope that the outbreak will be contained in a short time,” she explained.

 


Some of the patients suffering from typhoid lay down on the compound at Kisenyi Health Centre IV. (Photo credit: Ramadhan Abbey)


Nakamatte said the ministry together with KCCA had mounted an aggressive response against the outbreak.

“The public is advised to avoid eating cold foods, vegetables and fruits. They should only drink safe water from a reliable source and wash their hands with soap as frequently as possible."

She issued two hotline numbers, 0794661095 and 0794661128, for further information and report of any suspected cases.

Mustafa Mayambala, the chairman of the Taxi Drivers and Conductors Association, appealed to KCCA to decentralise the treatment of typhoid to other health centres to allow more people access the services.

He added that they had registered 50 patients at the Kasubi stage alone, 20 at the Namuwongo stage, 12 at the Mengo stage, 20 at the Makindye stage, five at the Kibuye-Nateete stage and two at the Mityana-Mubende stage where one person reportedly died.

Rose Achan, the nurse in charge of Kisenyi Health Centre IV, said the centre had not made any arrangements to follow up on patients who receive treatment.

“We cannot rule out death because most of the victims get treated and return home. Since we do not do a follow up on them some could die due to poor administration of drugs,” she esplained.

Typhoid spreads through food and water that has been contaminated with the salmonella bacteria.


 
The director public health and environment, KCCA, David Serukka (R) addresses journalists as KCCA spokesperson Peter Kaijju looks on during a press conference on the typhoid situation in Kampala. (Photo credit: Juliet Kasirye)

 


The public is advised to avoid eating cold foods, vegetables and fruits, especially on the streets. (Photo credit: Abbey Ramadhan)

 


Nurse-in-charge at Kisenyi Health Centre IV, Rose Evelyn Achan told journalists that the number of typhoid patients had risen. (Photo credit: Abbey Ramadhan)

 


A man drinks water from  an open well located in Old Taxi Park. Health experts warn that consumption of contaminated (unsafe) water is the leading cause of typhoid in Kampala. (Photo credit: Abbey Ramadhan)

 

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