Catherine Ntabadde, Uganda Red Cross
Deadly hepatitis E has killed at least 104 Ugandans – the majority of them women – since an outbreak of the disease was first noted in October 2007.
Current trends show an increase in the transmission of the disease in Uganda’s Kitgum and Pader districts. Altogether 6,530 cases have been recorded to date in the 17 affected sub–counties, with Agoro being hit hardest. Hepatitis E is spread through contaminated water and poor sanitation.
An assessment conducted by the Uganda Red Cross and Kitgum district representatives in Agoro revealed a most alarming situation. For a population of about 28,045 - with 6,039 households mainly living in camps for internally displaced people in Potika as well as Agoro and Oboko satellite camps - the latrine coverage was as low as 3.7 per cent and only 23 boreholes were functional.
Emergency
In July, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal seeking 950,000 Swiss francs to help the Uganda Red Cross combat the disease, but this appeal is only 31 per cent covered to date. Meanwhile the epidemic is spreading, affecting more and more people.
The Uganda Red Cross has used this initial coverage, and its existing resources, to conduct intensive hygiene campaigns to educate communities about the epidemic and how to avoid it. Some 260 latrines and 130 hand-washing facilities were constructed, while more than 100 volunteers were trained and deployed to conduct door to door sensitization campaigns on good hygiene practices.
“Our volunteers undertook bucket chlorination of 21 water sources, and people returning to their homes are being given chlorination tablets to [treat their household water],” said Peter Opika Opoka, Uganda Red Cross coordinator in Kitgum.
Supported
The Uganda Red Cross is being supported by the IFRC as well as Red Cross societies from Belgium, Denmark, Japan, Sweden and other partners on the ground.
But as hepatitis E has also been confirmed in Pader and Gulu districts, there is an urgent need to continue the work, as the disease has a long incubation period.
“The work of the Uganda Red Cross is crucial. I call on our partners to prevent further loss of life and step up their support to help us contain the spread of hepatitis E,” said Jessie Kanhutu, IFRC’s health coordinator for Eastern Africa.