Govt warns on El Nino rain disease outbreaks

The Uganda National Meteorological Authority, together with the IGAD Regional Climate Application and Prediction Centre and the World Meteorological Organization, in a report recently confirmed that Uganda and other East African Countries would experience an El Nino episode from late October 2015 to February 2016.

The report warned that this year’s El Nino will be stronger than the one of March 2010 which buried over 150 people and a Health Centre in Bududa District and the one of 2006 which flooded many villages in Teso and Lango sub-regions.

According to the report, the El Nino is expected to cause flooding, extensive erosion and mudslides with loss of lives, destruction of homes and food supplies at varying levels in some districts.

There are high possibilities of massive flooding, landslides, destructive windstorms, lightning, destruction of feeder roads, washing away of small-bridges and culverts, roofs of many village homes getting blown-off and rotting of root crops.

Some Health facilities are likely to be damaged and many pit-latrines will be flooded in the affected districts.

The incidence of infectious and non-communicable diseases such as Malaria, Cholera, Asthma, Typhoid, Bilharzia, Dysentery and acute respiratory infections will raise to outbreak levels in about 33 of the 112 districts.

The above foreseen scenarios will lead to increased demand for health services.

Currently, more than 100,000 people (12,500 households) are at a risk of landslides in the Mt. Elgon and Rwenzori sub-regions. As stated above, upto 20,000 of them are likely to be displaced between November 2015 and February 2016. 

El Nino rains are likely to cause health hazards to hundreds of households in the Rwenzori region and the following districts; Bududa, Bulambuli, Manafwa, Sironko, Mbale, Butaleja, Tororo, Kapchorwa, Bukwo, Kween, Kasese, Budibugyo, Ntoroko, Kampala, Amolatar, Amuria, Katakwi, Nakapiripirit, Napak, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong, Kaberamaido, Otuke, Amudat, Kisoro, Kabale, Rukungiri, Kanungu, Ntungamo, Moyo and Kabarole.

 
In preparation opf a likely catastrophe, the Ministry of Health, working with the Office of the Prime Minister has developed a Disease Outbreak Preparedness Plan.

The plan has been integrated into the National El-Nino Preparedness and Contingency Plan coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

Key among the activities in the plan are; Sanitation and hygiene programs; Provision of  additional medicines and supplies (anti-malarials, antibiotics, ORT, IV fluids and accessories); conducting outreach activities; vaccines, supplies and logistic procurement; strengthening disease surveillance; Emergency training for Village Health Teams; Water chlorination; Malaria prevention programs; and special support to districts and affected communities Health education and community mobilization.

The Ministry of Health is working closely with the National Multi-Sectoral El Nino committee to implement the above activities.

So line with the plan, the Ministry of Health makes the following appeal;


To districts

1.    Increase disease surveillance due to expected upsurges of epidemics related to rainy season such as Malaria, Cholera, bilharzia and typhoid, lower respiratory diseases e.g. Asthma due to humid conditions and allergies from some flowering plants

2.    Intensify heath education and awareness campaigns emphasizing the use of mosquito nets, slashing bushes, disposing open containers, filling open pits around homes,  draining of stagnant water to reduce malaria and other infectious diseases

3.    Intensify health inspection in all communities, especially in the high risk areas
4.    Map out high risk areas for emergency intervention
5.    Open up all rain water drainage sources


To general public

1.    Observe good general Hygiene and Sanitation around homes and schools
2.    Seek early treatment  from the nearest Health Facility in case of illness
3.    Sleep under mosquito nets to avoid Malaria
4.    Boil all drinking water as water sources are likely to be affected.