Health officials in the Iganga district have expressed grave concern over a sharp increase in the number of people contracting faecal-oral diseases in the region.
Led by the District Health Officer (DHO) of Iganga, they have highlighted the dangers posed by consuming food contaminated by unclean hands.
Health officials in Iganga district have raised the alarm after the number of people suffering from diseases caused by poor hygiene increased by 3% across all sub-counties. According to the Iganga District Health Officer, Dr. Khanin Mwebaza, diseases such as Typhoid, dysentery, cholera, and others continue to afflict people in these areas. He stated that this is a result of negligence, as some people do not wash their hands after using the latrine or after handling waste.
The Director of Iganga General Hospital, Dr. Anna Mate, confirmed that the hospital has registered an influx of patients reportedly suffering from diseases caused by poor hygiene. She emphasised that these diseases are preventable through proper handwashing with soap after using the latrine.
In an effort to combat these diseases, the Government of Uganda, with support from the Government of Korea, has partnered with the local non-governmental organization Busoga Health Trust. This is being done through a project known as “WASH” (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), which aims to educate people and provide access to clean water, particularly in the Busoga sub-region where the problem is most acute.
The manager of this project, Jung Sang Hoon, stated they are committed to working with the Ugandan government to reduce diseases caused by poor sanitation. He mentioned that they will be extending water supplies to various parts of Busoga, especially to public places and trading centres.
These initiatives have already received funding, and implementation has begun in Iganga District. The project has started by providing clean water sources to help people, particularly at Iganga General Hospital, Nakalama Trading Centre, and other public locations.
