Nodding Disease runs rampant in Uganda

Uganda: Pader Runs Out of Drugs for Controlling Nodding

Jacky Adure17 January 2012
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Pader — Parents in Pader District have to dig deeper into their pockets to get medicine for controlling nodding disease among their children.

The district two weeks ago ran out of epilepsy drugs (Phenobarbitoin and Carbamaxpine) which are used to control the nodding disease. The areas where the disease is most severe are Atanga, Lapul, Angagura, Awere and Puranga sub-counties.



Ms Ventorino Aol of Lacekocot, whose two grandchildren are battling the disease, had to seek medication at Gulu Hospital, about 45 kilometers away. Transport from Pader to Gulu is about Shs15,000. The district has been largely dependant on the Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation, an NGO, that has been providing treatment for managing the disease since its outbreak three years ago.

In Angagura Health Centre III, medical workers say they are stuck with over 200 children who were receiving treatment from the centre but now have nothing to control the ailment, whose cause and mode of spread is still unknown.



Dr Jacinto Amandua, commissioner for clinical services, asked the health workers to be patient as the Ministry of Health sends more drugs. He, however, cautioned that the drugs be administered to those with severe signs to avoid disastrous side-effects.

Dr Amandua said although the disease is overwhelming Kitgum and Pader districts, the ministry with its partners are working closely to ensure that all efforts are directed at its control as they await the results of sample tests from Atlanta, USA.

The District Health Officer, Ms Janet Oola, however, said following the drug shortage, the district procured more drugs a few days ago. "When we ran short of drugs, we ordered for an emergency supply from the National Medical Stores," she said. However, when Daily Monitor visited some of the health facilities last week, they had not yet received the medicine.

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The district chairman, Mr Alfred Akena, in an interview with Daily Monitor on Sunday, said they are overwhelmed by the disease because parents can no longer concentrate on income generating activities as they have to attend to their sick children. "We have fears that the coming months would not be good for the people because almost every family here is affected by the disease," Mr Akena said.

Mr Akena said the district has raised about Shs3b to support families that have been affected by the disease. Nodding disease is a fatal, mentally and physically disabling disease that stunts the growth of its victims. Bouts of nodding and seizure usually begin when food is served.

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