Rains: Government issues health alert

Director general of health services Prof. Anthony Mbonye. Photo/File

The health ministry has issued an alert to districts asking them to increase disease surveillance during this rainy season.

In a statement the director general of health services Prof. Anthony Mbonye said the heavy rains could cause destruction of feeder roads and health infrastructure; injuries and loss of lives as a result of mudslides and flooding.

"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 rise to outbreak levels in many districts," Mbonye said. 

"The Ministry of Health therefore would to appeal to districts  to 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," he adds.

He also called for the need to use of mosquito nets; need to slashing bushes; and ensuring good hygiene to reduce malaria and other infectious diseases.