By George Emuron
BUKEDEA
Authorities in Bukedea district have disclosed that the district has high cases of sickle cell disease.
This was revealed yesterday, 2nd June 2022 by Evelyn Mwesigwa, the Program Officer, Uganda National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services during the district engagement meeting.
Mwesigwa revealed that a three months survey carried out between the months of March, May and June in the three sampled schools of Bukedea life line, Bukedea secondary school and Bukedea comprehensive academy school had 1871 children testing positive.
The meeting was chaired by the Resident District Commissioner Bukedea, Hajji Imran Muluga and attended by the LCV Chairman, Moses Olemukan among other district officials.
Mwesigwa said undetected cases of the sickle cell virus happens simply because of the ignorance of people in the community.
“We people don’t conduct tests for sickle cells, yet the virus is terrible, it kills children between the ages of 1-5 years”, said Mwesigwa.
Mwesigwa also appealed to the district leadership to take serious action on sensitizing the masses on the dangers of the sickle cell virus.
Stephen Ikodet, the acting District Health Officer Bukedea said, previously before the sampling screening, the district had only seven confirmed cases.
He says the alarming outcomes of the sampled schools has made the district worry since most of the people in the community pay less attention to screening sickle cell.
“We as a district are going to take serious action on mobilizing awareness to the community on the dangers of sickle cells”, said Mr. Ikodet.
Moses Olemukan says besides other priorities, the district should put more emphasis on the prevention of the sickle cell virus.
Hajji Imran Muluga who chaired the meeting, tasked leaders for a collaboration effort.
He said as the representative of government, based on the reports revealed, he would forward the matter to the President.
Imran also added that, since the report is alarming, there is need for the government to improvise test kids to the health facilities and train community surveillance teams.
“Sickle cell disease is a very terrible disease, I’m calling the office of the DHO to take serious action to ensure that people are sensitized”, said Imran.
