Aug 22, 2012
The district has been in efforts to contain the Ebola fever just recently
* Cholera and dystentry outbreak in Kibaale
* Two dead, 14 admitted
* The same district where Ebola struck
By Ismael Kasooha
Residents of Kibaale district will not live settled lives yet even after the deadly Ebola virus was last week declared contained in the area. Now it is a double strike of cholera and dysentery in the same district.
Already, two people have succumbed to the cholera outbreak on the shores of Lake Albert in the western district of the country.
The dead have been identified as Aduba Kabaja, 42, a resident of Kitebere landing site and Peter Kasanga, 50, a resident of Songalawo landing site in Ndaiga sub-county.
Dr. Dana Kyamanywa, the district health officer said that the duo died on the August 13 and August 16 respectively.
"It has been confirmed that it is cholera and we have already set up an isolation unit to treat patients at Ndaiga health centre II at the lake shores," said Kyamanywa.
The two middle-aged men both died at their homes before they could report to the health centre.
So far 14 people are currently admitted at the Cholera Isolation Centre at Ndaiga health centre II in Ndaiga sub-county.
But Dr. Jackson Amony, who is currently the national coordinator of the Ebola taskforce said the isolation centre does not meet the standards of an isolation unit which poses danger in the area.
"The problem is aggravated by the mobility of the communities living on the lake shores and sanitation is very poor and there are no toilets," he explained.
“The air smells of faecal matter as one arrives at the fishing villages, which poses higher health risks.”
He said that although Intravenous-IV fluids have been supplied, there are no treatment guidelines and no attendants at the isolation centre which has only one government health worker.
"These people lack protective gear and are not facilitated," Dr. Amony said.
Kibaale district health officer, Dr. Dan Kyamanywa said they have already dispatched some drugs and other necessities to contain the situation.
He appealed to the public to maintain high levels of hygiene and sanitation to prevent contracting cholera.
Caution!
Medical theory suggests that cholera is spread through eating foods and drinks contaminated with human faeces.
The public has been cautioned to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating food, eat food when it is still hot, avoid eating foods and drinks sold at the roadside and ensure that human waste is properly disposed of in the latrine.
A person can also take Erythromycin tabs every six hours as a preventive measure, especially for those staying in high-risk areas.
Meanwhile the outbreak of dysentery also has been confirmed in Kijonjomi village, Kyanaisoke sub-county in Kibaale district.
Eighat people have been hospitalized with dysentery but have not been brought to the hospital.
The revelation was made by Dr. Kyamanywa during the Ebola coordination meeting at Kagadi hospital on Sunday.
He said that dysentery was reported some two days back by residents who had suspected it for were Ebola.
The medics have decided to do Syndromic treatment for the dysentery outbreak.
Caution, again!
Dysentery is characterized by abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.
Experts say that dysentery is caused by contaminated water drawn from unprotected water sources.
They have already trained village health teams in the affected village for a follow-up to manage the outbreak. http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634387-Two-dead-as-cholera--dysentery-hit-Kibaale.html