Health ministry moves investigation into Cholera hotspots, introduces preventive measures

The Ministry of Health has embarked on a field study of areas affected by Cholera to identify the cause of the disease that has rocked the capital Kampala for close to a month.

Unique about this year’s outbreak is that it occurred during a dry season when there is limited movement of fecal matter by running water.

Speaking to Nile Post the minister of health for Primary Health Care Dr Joyce Kaducu intimated that a team of experts had streamed to areas of Kabowa in Rubaga Division, Makindye to assess the underlying factors.

"Water samples have been collected from the tap, the teams went to homesteads, to assess what may have gone wrong,” the minister said.

Dr Kaducu revealed that preliminary results show that most of the water in the affected areas has been contaminated with the germs that cause cholera.

“In the meantime the ministry has unveiled 3.8 million shillings for hygiene kits that includes water purifiers, buckets to boost hand washing,” she added.

National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has also pledged to install 700 prepaid water points in Kampala; the users will pay 75 shillings per jerrycan and 300 water points will be installed by end of this month.

This report comes weeks after the Cholera outbreak was confirmed in Kampala, in Kabowa Rubaga Division

Of the 41 cases recorded at the Cholera isolation center in Naguru Hospital 18 of the cases are from Kabowa, the initial hotspot.

From 2nd January 2019, the outbreak has claimed 2 lives, hospitalizing 41 with diarrhea, 18 confirmed cases and 77 contacts listed for follow up.

The Ministry of Health is investigating a suspected cholera case from Uganda Christian University in the spate of the cholera outbreak