Strange Skin Disease Causes Panic Among Amolatar District Residents

Residents of Akongomit parish, Awelo Sub County, Amolatar District are battling a strange skin disease. The disease manifests with itchy rashes, which later develop into painful sores accompanied by watery discharges.  

The disease has affected at least 10 households from two villages in Akongomit parish.  A total of 18 children, the youngest being 6 months and 3 adults in Alongotidi village have presented with systems similar to scabies while another case has been reported in a neighbouring village of Oturulakodal.

Anna Obongi, a member of the village health teams (VHT) that the children and some adults been attacked by the strange skin disease within a space of two months. She says that the first case was reported to her in late January, to which she referred the HCII where scabies was ruled out.

In Alongotidi village where the infection is spreading fast, the residents say that attempts to find a solution have been futile since the skin ointment hasn’t helped.

//Cue in: “Abin atero atin… Cue out: … naka jo adongo.”//

Betty Okello, a resident of Alongotidi village fears that if immediate interventions are not devised, the infection could affect many residents in the area.  She called for intervention from the health experts.

Cue in: “Acalo two ame… Cue out: … I wangtici.”// Translation:

“The way I see this disease, it is worsening by the day in Alongoatidi village and now men are fearing women because the women stay with children and this can force the men to leave their homes thus creating more problems for us the women. My request to the government is that they should come out to save us from this kind of disease.”

Sam Ochom, the Sub- County Health Assistant told says that although his desk has not recorded any case of scabies, the concern needs urgent arbitration.

He pledged to reach out to the district health department to establish the possible cause of the disease.   //Cue in: “I have never… Cue out: … exactly the cause.”//