Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Health Ministry Launches UGX 4B Project to Fight Elephantiasis in Lango :: Uganda Radionetwork
Gabriel Matwale, the Program Manager Community Health and Vector Control Division at MoH, says they intend to operate 7,000 people to address both hydrocele and elephantiasis in Lango. He encouraged victims to embrace the program, saying their condition is manageable.
Ministry of Health has launched a 3-year
project worth Shillings 4 billion aimed at eliminating hydrocele and lymphatic
filariasis (LF) commonly known as Elephantiasis from Lango Sub-region.
The Lango LF Morbidity Management and Disability prevention- MMDP project will
support the provision of surgeries for hydrocele and lymfoidima in the nine
districts comprising Lango sub-region.
They are Lira, Apac, Kwania, Dokolo, Amolatar, Alebtong, Otuke, Kole,
and Oyam in Lango sub-region. That project that started in October is being implemented
by Sightsavers, an international non-governmental organization that works with
partners in developing countries to treat and prevent avoidable blindness.
Anonymous donors are funding the program in collaboration with the Ministry of
Health Uganda, Vector Control Division-VCD and District Local Governments
through HCIV’s. Under the project, Sight savers will work through the Village
Health Team (VIT) to mobilize and sensitize the community as well as train
family members on how to take care of patients.
Part of the money will go to training surgical teams including doctors
and people who work in the theaters to provide surgeries and VHTs as case
finders to move from house to house looking for the cases in the nine districts.
People with lymfoidima will receive training on how to take good care of
themselves to ensure they recover from the condition.
Gabriel Matwale, the Program Manager Community Health and Vector Control
Division at MoH, says they intend to operate 7,000 people to address both
hydrocele and elephantiasis in Lango. He encouraged the victims to embrace the
program, saying their condition is manageable.
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Matwale, who trashed the common belief that the two conditions are related to
witchcraft and bad omen advised the victims to maintain good hygiene and
follow doctor’s orders.
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Dr. Johnson Ngorok, the Country Director Sightsavers Uganda revealed that Lango sub-region was selected for the program because it is the second most affected
region. The other affected regions include some part of Acholi, West Nile and
Bukedi region. Teso is the most
affected.
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Rashid Mwesigye Etwop, the Lira District Vector Control Officer advised the
community to embrace the project and ensure that those with such cases are
treated so that it can be eradicated once and for all.
