Cholera vaccination to start next year

HEALTH | CHOLERA

The Ministry of Health has said it will start the use of the Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) in February next year.

This comes two weeks after the outbreak of cholera in Kasese district, where 112 cases have been registered.

The vaccination exercise will target people mainly in Hoima, Pakwach, Buliisa and parts of Kasese district and mainly fishing communities.

According to the health ministry, Nebbi, Hoima, Bulisa and Kasese districts have made 50% of reported cases of cholera in the country over the years, and 60% of cases are from landing sites.

Vivian Serwanjja, the Ministry of Health spokesperson, confirmed the introduction of the cholera vaccine. He said it is another approach to prevent the epidemic.

Other cholera interventions include social mobilisation and community empowerment, promotion of access to safe water, good sanitation, surveillance and laboratory confirmation of outbreaks.

"The ministry's top management will conduct a micro plan this month on how the exercise will be carried out. Under the plan, we will establish how much money and vaccine stock pile will be required," Serwanjja said.

He, however, noted that cholera vaccination will not replace the other interventions, but it will serve as a complementary measure on how to fight the disease.

The vaccine is also intended to boost body immunity to fight diseases related to consumption of contaminated water.

Dr Godfrey Bwire, the Head of Control Diarrhea Diseases at the health ministry, said 106 people have been discharged.

"Only six people are still admitted at Bwera Hospital in Kasese, but we have a team ready to combat any further outbreaks," he said.

The introduction of the Oral Cholera Vaccine was realised and supportted by World Health Organisation in conjunction with UNICEF.

In May this year, the Government earmarked sh30b to fight Cholera in 17 prone districts of Uganda for a period of five years.

Some of the districts to benefit from the budget include Arua, Bududa, Bulambuli, Bundibugyo, Busia, Butaleja, Kampala, Kibaale, Mbale, Namayingo, Nebbi, Ntoroko, Rukungiri and Sironko.

The list also includes the five districts where the vaccination will take place in February next year.

At the same time, the Government also launched a new strategy, dubbed ‘National Integrated Comprehensive Cholera Prevention and Control Plan (NICCP) to address issues related to cholera in the country.

Cause
According to Center for Disease Control (CDC), Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholera, characterised by watery diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps.

CDC adds that an estimated 3-5 million cases and over 100,000 deaths occur annually around the world.

The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and about one in 10 (5-10%) infected persons will have severe symptoms and experience rapid loss of body fluids, leading to dehydration and shock.

CDC warns that without treatment, death can occur within hours.