By Kule Joackim
The health standards of the population living in Karusandara sub-county in Kasese district have been affected by the continuous occurrence of floods in the area hence facilitating the spread of diseases.
Karusandara sub-county that has a population of 25,000 people is served by two health centre IIIs, Kanamba and Karusandara.
John Charles Mukiiza, the Sub-county Chairperson revealed the development yesterday in his speech that he presented to the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng who had visited the area to officiate at crowning of oral cholera vaccination.
According to Mukiiza, the floods that have continuously hit the area have increased the rate of famine and diseases including malaria at 80%, malnutrition for both children and adults at 40% and diarrhoea among others.
The most affected age groups are children between 5-6 months, pregnant mothers and the lactating women.
According to Mukiiza, the occurrence of floods has also led to redundancy in the people to construct toilets.
He also indicated that only 358 households have some improved latrines, 1, 689 have unimproved ones, 210 do not have toilets and 399 residents have dirty latrines.
The Sub-county Boss therefore asked government to consider de-silting River Mubuku water channel that often leads to the destruction of crops in the area.
Responding to the report, the Minster, Jane Ruth Aceng appealed to the leaders to sensitize the locals about the need to live in a healthy environment and to also embrace continuous hand washing, practicing sanitation and strengthening immunization programs across the district.
Joshua Kisembo Masereka, the Kasese Deputy Resident District Commissioner noted that some of the sub counties bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo register some cases of cholera.
With the vaccination exercise, the RDC said he was optimistic that the prevalence would drastically reduce.
