It is quite interesting that for several years the nodding
disease has been existent in Uganda but very little is known about it in the
medical world here. This reminds me of a ‘strange disease’ as described in the
media, which was killing especially children only to be discovered as
malnutrition.
Uganda has no disease historians, otherwise why would we
have a disease running through the community for several years and every time
no one knows how to diagnose it. It is a ‘strange disease.’
According to Wikipedia, ‘Nodding disease or nodding
syndrome’ is a new, little-known disease which emerged
in Sudan in the 1980s. It is
a fatal, mentally and physically disabling disease that only affects young
children typically between the ages of 5 and 15.
It is currently restricted to small regions in South Sudan,
Tanzania and Uganda says Wikipedia.
This time round, the ‘nodding’ disease initial assessments
by the Uganda Ministry of Health, local authorities and Civil society
Organisations have found that in 2011, over 2000 children have been infected.
Over 60 young of these have died while hundreds have dropped out of school.
With no laboratories to carry out tests in Uganda, samples
from children have been sent to Atlanta, USA, the Ministry of Health says. But
being a festive season, they are unlikely to be returned on time.
The ripple effect on the family is even bigger. Mothers who
are supposed to tend their gardens stay at home to now look after sick
children, so food security is threatened at the household level, and they are
stigmatized. At the community level, the affected families are shunned so
discussion about it is limited.
According to experts, the "nodding disease" causes
seizures, and affected children become physically and mentally stunted, which
can lead to blindness and even death. It has been linked to Onchocerciasis and epilepsy
because it has similar symptoms.
Despite this scenario, the budget for health research for
this financial year was reduced and no special provisions have been put into
place to ensure additional and necessary medicines and personnel for places
affected with ‘nodding disease’.
This year, Uganda has had record economic growth rates and
an increasing revenue base over the past decade, yet we find that investment in
health as a percentage of the national budget declined during this period and
stagnated at around 8 to 9% says the ‘Right to health group’ in Uganda. Per
capita investment in health in Uganda today is about 7 US$ per person when the
WHO minimum recommended rate is 41 US$.
Press statement on the Ministry’s
campaign against the Nodding Syndrome
24th January 2012
Ministry of Health
develops Emergency Response Plan to tackle Nodding Syndrome in Northern Uganda
The
Ministry of Health has developed a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan to
tackle the increasing cases of Nodding Disease in the northern districts of
Kitgum, Lamwo and Pader. The Plan provides an integrated response to the
disease through a coordinated mechanism that will ultimately identify the cause
and control of the disease syndrome to the level where it is no longer of
public health importance.
The disease
is characterized by head nodding, mental retardation and stunted growth. It was
first reported to the Ministry of Health by Kitgum District Health Office in
August 2009. Currently, over 3000 children in the northern districts have been
affected by the disease. This is not a new disease. Similar cases were also
reported in Tanzania and Southern Sudan.
Since 2009,
the Ministry of Health has been undertaking a number of measures to control its
spread. Among these is the provision of supportive treatment to the children,
training of health workers, massive sensitization and conducting research on
the cause and control of the disease.
Initial
studies conducted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Centre
for Disease Control (CDC) did not indicate any conclusive cause of the disease.
However, the new response plan will see an extensive research programme about
the cause and spread of the diseases. This research programme will be
undertaken by the Ministry of Health, CDC, universities in Uganda and other Health
Development Partners.
Initial activation
funding has been mobilised from the Ministry of Health budget. The National
Taskforce on Epidemic Preparedness and Response chaired by the Ministry of
Health is currently in the process of mobilising resources from its partners. The
Ministry will in addition submit a Supplementary Budget request to the Ministry
of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to support the Response Plan.
The Response Plan
that has also been shared with the Acholi Parliamentary Group, provides for the
procurement and distribution of medicines and other supplies to affected
communities. The medicines will be dispersed to hospitals and health centres
that are easily accessible to the affected communities.
The Ministry will
in addition set up screening and treatment centres in affected districts. These
centres will be beefed up with supplementary staff consisting of at least a
psychiatric clinical officer, psychiatric nurse, nutritionist and counsellor.
The designated centres will be opened by end of February. These are; Padibe
Health centre IV for Lamwo district, Kitgum Hospital for Kitgum while Pajule Health
Centre IV will cater for Padre District. These centres will be supported by
monthly outreach programs to the affected communities.
Psychiatry
experts shall also be engaged from Mulago and Butabika National Referral
Hospitals, as well as other regional hospitals, to train the screening teams at
the designated centres.
The
Implementation of the Response Plan will be multi-sectoral involving various
stakeholders at district and central level. These include; Ministries of;
Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Gender and Labour, Local
Government, Education and Sports and Office of the Prime Minister as well as
Universities and Research Institutions. The Ministry of Health has so far sent
a request to the Office of the Prime Minister to supply emergency nutritional
supplements to the designated screening and treatment centres.
The Ministry
is working closely with the affected local governments and political leadership
to mobilise communities to seek medical assistance from the designated screening
centres. Districts have also been requested to incorporate the activities into
their district plans and budgets.
The Minsitry
of health is in addition working with a number of Development Partners to
implement this plan. These include World health Organisation, Centre for
Disease Control (CDC), UNICEF, USAID and MF-Spain.
I appeal to
the Members of Parliament and district leaders from the Acoli sub-region to
work with the Ministry of Health to ensure proper coordination and
implementation of the Response Plan.
I appeal to
affected communities to stay calm as we find a lasting solution to this problem.
The Ministry
of Health informs the public that it is doing everything in its control to
manage the spread of the disease in northern Uganda. I assure the public that
we continue our commitment to the prevention and fighting of disease throughout
Uganda.
FOR GOD AND MY
COUNTRY
Hon. Christine Ondoa
Minister of Health
Shouldn't all nations be concerned, look at bird flu it started in one area and spread to other countries. Just because its in a different country does not mean it shouldnt concern us. It could spread, or if its a biological weapon it could be used anywhere. This needs to be a major priority for all nations to figure out whats going on before it gets worse.
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