Masimo Opiyo, the Executive Director of Comboni Samaritans, says teenage motherhood has overtime presented a huge challenge for the region spanning over three decades right from the early 90s during the height of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army - LRA rebellion.
Dr. Eric Alilo, the in-charge ogf Kotido Health Centre IV described the condition as gastroschisis, a birth defect of the abdominal wall where the baby’s intestines stick outside of the body through a hole besides the belly button.
Brian Kisembo, the COVID-19 Incident Manager in Kabarole, says that so far, five of the cases are at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital for management, while 18 have been asked to stay in their homes because the isolation centre is full.
It is estimated that at least 30 girls under the age of 18 are defiled every day in the region. Recent statistics by the Ministry of Education reveals that over 10,000 girls were impregnated during the lockdown period in Acholi.
On her part, Dr. Esther Bayiga a researcher based at Makerere University School of Public Health says recommended speed has been left standard 50kms per hour even as the traffic law was amended recently without giving exceptions of for instance reduction in speed when someone is driving through a busy trading center.
In addition to this, 90 per cent of women identified with cervical will receive treatment by 2050. According to the WHO, investing in the above interventions can generate substantial economic and societal returns. It is estimated that if governments invest, they could make returns as high as three dollars for every dollar spent.
