Minister Moriku visits cholera patients at Naguru

Jan 11, 2019

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with bacteria.

PIC: Minister Moriku checked on patients at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital. (Credit: Aminah Nabirye)

HEALTH | CHOLERA


By Aminah Nabirye

KAMPALA - The Minister of State Minister for Primary Health Care, Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu on Friday visited cholera patients at the China-Uganda Friendship Hospital in Naguru.

Three patients, including a pregnant woman, are currently admitted at the facility while several others have been discharged. One of the three, a nine-year-old boy, was brought in on Friday with signs of cholera.

For the child, while cholera is highly suspect, the hospital was yet to confirm that it actually is. Hospital director Emmanuel Batiibwe said the adult cholera patients may be discharged later in the day.

Moriku probed the patients admitted why they don't have toilets and why they use buckets to dispose of their waste in water drainages at night.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with bacteria.

Moriku met with the medical personnel at Naguru

 

The health facility receives many patients on a daily for various cases

 

One of the cholera patients, a pregnant woman, is expected to be discharged soon



On Thursday, during a press conference at Uganda Media Centre, the minister said the health ministry had received a report of four suspected cholera cases Saturday last week.

The said patients from Kaboowa parish in Rubaga division had been seen at Kiruddu Hospital with diarrhea and vomiting.

A treatment centre was opened at Naguru China-Uganda Friendship Hospital to treat suspected and confirmed patients.

"There are no reported cholera cases in Nakawa, Central and Kawempe. Our teams have intensified sensitisation on appropriate behavior to avoid," Moriku told reporters on Thursday.



Teams are also doing a house to house search for suspected cases "to treat them or ask to seek care". The ministry has also increased the supply of cholera drugs.

During her visit at Naguru, the minister warned doctors against asking for money from patients for laboratory tests.

The following tests are done for free at Naguru: biochemistry, haemotology and microbiology.


 

 

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});