Typhoid kills 20 in Bukwo
from MONITOR online August 17, 2009
BukwoDespite efforts by the government to combat typhoid in Bukwo District, fresh reports indicate that the disease is still spreading in the district and that at least 20 people have succumbed to it.The Ministry of Health Field Epidemiologist, Dr Luswa Lukwago, who has been on research and surveillance in the district, confirmed to Daily Monitor the new development on the epidemic.He said: “Over 20 people have been reported dead and on average every family has about four cases.” “Although we have treated the disease, recent research and surveillance indicates that the disease is still in Suam, Kapkorosoy, Kapkuripson and Kabei sub-counties,” he added.Dr Lukwago said this after making a presentation of the disease status report to the district team on Wednesday.He said many cases never receive adequate treatment and others who fled to Kenya came back.“We have been treating patients using chlorampheonical and ceftraxone but the two drugs ran out of stock, forcing many to seek traditional means,” he said.Dr Lukwago said the poor latrine distribution in the district and the free movement across the border points between Uganda and Kenya is responsible for the disease spread in the wake of shortage of drugs.Bukwo has 57 per cent latrine coverage in the district and most of them are open structures that leave the human waste exposed.Also about 400 cases are believed to have fled to Kenya after the disease broke out in the villages surrounding River Bukwo and are now returning.He revealed that because many people died without getting medical attention, they have lost faith in the local health system and have now turned to Kenya where they believe they will receive better medical services.The World Health Organisation Public Health Specialist, Dr Mary Amongin, confirmed the disease is still spreading in Bukwo, claiming about 22 people and leaving about 32 bed-ridden in Bukwo Health Centre.
Monday, August 17, 2009
N EWS: NDA bans use of Metakeflin to treat Malaria
NDA bans use of Metakeflin to treat Malariafrom MONITOR online 8/17/09
National Drug Authority (NDA) Executive Secretary, Apollo Muhairwe with the banned Metakelfin at NDA offices. Muhairwe urged patients not to buy Metakelfin for any therapeutic purposes. Photo by Nelson Wesonga
The National Drug Authority (NDA), the national drug regulator, has banned the use of Metakeflin tablets which are used to treat malaria.Addressing a press conference today morning at the NDA offices in Kampala, the regulator’s Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Muhairwe said this follows a change in the Malaria Treatment Policy by the Ministry of Health in which Artemisinin based Combination Therapies (ACTs) were adopted as first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria.“Thus, all antimalarials that do not contain ACTs were phased out in that regard, in order to curb the emerging resistance amongst the available ant malarial drugs,” Mr Muhairwe said.Mr Muhairwe told journalists that NDA stopped the importation of Metakelfin (sulphurmethoxypyrazin/pyrimethamine) in May last year. Mr Muhairwe also showed journalists some of the tablets that were seized after they discovered they found their way into the country through unscrupulous means. Out of every 15 batches, 10 of them were counterfeit.All drug stores have been asked to surrender all the stocks of Metakelfin to the drugs authority.
Friday, August 7, 2009
NEWS: Jinja man dies after taking expired drugs
Jinja man dies after taking expired drugs
August 7, 2009 from MONITOR online
JinjaOne man has died and another is in critical condition after taking suspected expired drugs in Jinja. Bonny Ojede, a resident of Jinja Town, died on Tuesday at Jinja Hospital after almost all the skin had peeled off his body in spite of all efforts by the medical staff to save his life.The Nursing Officer in charge of Ward Four, Ms Mebra Namaganda, told Daily Monitor on Wednesday that Ojede was admitted at the hospital two weeks ago after he had undergone self medication against malaria with unknown drugs that he had bought from a local drug shop yet to be established. Ojede was buried yesterday at Ayeri Sub-county in Apac District.Another patient is in critical condition from a similar cause. Mr Samuel Mukisa of Ibulanku Sub-county in Iganga District, is still undergoing treatment at the same hospital but Ms Namaganda said his condition is still critical. He is also suspected to have taken expired drugs from a local drug store. According to Jinja Hospital staff, Mr Mukisa’s condition has continued to be worrying because his skin continues to peel off despite all the medication that has been administered to him. Ms Namaganda said although the cause has not yet been established, poisoning arising from the consumption of expired drugs cannot at the moment be completely ruled out.Mr Mukisa’s wife, Esther Namaganda, a teacher at Nakalama Muslim Primary School, said since she does not stay with her husband, a teacher at Nakivumbi Nursery and Primary School, she was not there when he took the drugs but found some in the house the next day.“When I was called the next day, I found Herpex, Coartem and Panadol tablets in the house,” she said. She said her husband told her that he had bought the drugs from a local drug shop after developing a cold and used them as per the prescription given by the person who sold them to him.She tearfully narrated that just after one day, her husband had developed blisters all over the body and he could not see properly. “We first went to Iganga Hospital from where we were referred here (Jinja Hospital) where he has undergone treatment for the past two weeks,” she said.
August 7, 2009 from MONITOR online
JinjaOne man has died and another is in critical condition after taking suspected expired drugs in Jinja. Bonny Ojede, a resident of Jinja Town, died on Tuesday at Jinja Hospital after almost all the skin had peeled off his body in spite of all efforts by the medical staff to save his life.The Nursing Officer in charge of Ward Four, Ms Mebra Namaganda, told Daily Monitor on Wednesday that Ojede was admitted at the hospital two weeks ago after he had undergone self medication against malaria with unknown drugs that he had bought from a local drug shop yet to be established. Ojede was buried yesterday at Ayeri Sub-county in Apac District.Another patient is in critical condition from a similar cause. Mr Samuel Mukisa of Ibulanku Sub-county in Iganga District, is still undergoing treatment at the same hospital but Ms Namaganda said his condition is still critical. He is also suspected to have taken expired drugs from a local drug store. According to Jinja Hospital staff, Mr Mukisa’s condition has continued to be worrying because his skin continues to peel off despite all the medication that has been administered to him. Ms Namaganda said although the cause has not yet been established, poisoning arising from the consumption of expired drugs cannot at the moment be completely ruled out.Mr Mukisa’s wife, Esther Namaganda, a teacher at Nakalama Muslim Primary School, said since she does not stay with her husband, a teacher at Nakivumbi Nursery and Primary School, she was not there when he took the drugs but found some in the house the next day.“When I was called the next day, I found Herpex, Coartem and Panadol tablets in the house,” she said. She said her husband told her that he had bought the drugs from a local drug shop after developing a cold and used them as per the prescription given by the person who sold them to him.She tearfully narrated that just after one day, her husband had developed blisters all over the body and he could not see properly. “We first went to Iganga Hospital from where we were referred here (Jinja Hospital) where he has undergone treatment for the past two weeks,” she said.
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