Filed by Emmanuel Eumu.
The Lira district health officer Dr. Buchan Ocen revealed that for the last five days of tasting in Lira alone, 32 turned out to be Tuberculosis positive which according to him is a high figure.
Health Minister Jane Ruth Achieng addressing the Cultural leaders in Lango Sub – region on Thursday 10th August.
The health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has tasked the cultural Leaders in Lango Sub County to take the responsibility of leading masses in the fight against tuberculosis and Leprosy.
Aceng made the call while addressing cultural Leaders at St Lira Hotel where she noted that cultural Leaders should be at the center of fighting the infections of tuberculosis and Leprosy, she said that the rate at which tuberculosis is increasing in the Lango sub region is alarming and worries the government which needs cultural attention to combat the spread.
Aceng said that in Uganda, Lango is third behind kampala and wakiso and the community should regularly seek for medical attention since the disease is curable at the early stage.
Dr Turyahbwe stavia the assistant commissioner in the ministry of health said that tuberculosis is high in the district of Otuke, Lira district Lira City, Oyam and Apac which needs a lot of attention.
Turyahbwe appealed to the cultural Leaders from the said districts to join hands with the medical personnel in the fight.
“Those in the nearby district like Amolatra, Kole and Dokolo with low number of tuberculosis infection to help in sentizing the community to precaution”, he said.
“According to the chart of records Otuke, Lira, Oyam and Apac have the longest number of infections this, therefore attention should be given to these districts. This means cultural Leaders from this district should wake up and fight against this infection”, Aceng said.
The Lango paramount chief Yosam Odur Ebii acknowledged the call and pronounced the plan to start meeting cultural Leaders in various districts to carry out sensitization on how to curb the infection.
George Rashid Opio, the okarowo kmalakwanga, clan head noted that each culture has their beliefs, unfortunately the government has blocked them from practicing their Cultural norms, he amplified a need to embark on doing research on these infections.
According to the report district health report, the district health officer Dr. Buchan Ocen revealed that for the last five days when the process of testing was done in the district, 32 turned out to be Tuberculosis positive which according to him is a high figure..