BY JOACKIM KULE
The Kasese District Chief Administrative Officer has implored the Municipal and District Health Officers to come up with a sustainable plan aimed at preventing the spread of a number of deadly diseases that are silently killing the people.
Mr. Elias Byamungu made the remarks today morning during a meeting in which different stakeholders were interacting with the Country Director for Enabel, a Belgium Development Agency that is supporting the district to improve health service delivery. The meeting was held at Rukoki Health Centre IV in Nyamwamba Division of Kasese Municipality.
Enabel is implementing a five – year health support project in four districts of Uganda including Kasese.
Byamungu noted that most people in the country and Kasese district in particular were innocently being eaten up by deadly diseases like Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis (T.B) and leprosy.
However, the Chief Administrative Officer was happy that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the adolescents was still low because it stands at only 2%, encouraging elderly and cultural leaders to continue sensitizing the young people about the need to have good morals and to also abstain from sex until they get married.
Byamungu’s remarks followed a report that had earlier been presented to the stakeholders by Dr. Abraham Masereka, the in-charge at Rukoki Health Center IV who indicated that in the last financial year, 74 people tested positive for Tuberculosis while 3,213 tested positive for malaria.
Dr. Masereka, however, requested government to expedite the process of accrediting Rukoki Health Centre IV to a hospital status since it offers health services to a bigger population.
According to him, most patients who throng Rukoki Health Centre IV come from Busongora County, Rubirizi and Bunyangabu districts, hence forcing the facility to operate beyond its capacity.
Mr. Tom Vanneste, the Country Director for Enabel applauded the government of Uganda for prioritizing health services to the people.
He pledged to continue working with the district especially Rukoki Health Center IV so that health services are equitably distributed to the people.
ENDS