Albertine Region listed among cholera hotspots

By Moses Kidandi

Local leaders in west Nile region have embarked on a rapid campaign to sensitize communities against Cholera.

This follows a world Health organization( WHO) and UNICEF report mapping the Albertine regions comprising of Nebbi and Packwach as cholera hot spots in Africa.

The two districts of Nebbi and Packwach stood out among those with annual rampant occurrences of Cholera.This has been is due water contamination in these areas.

In a bid to reduce the hygiene and sanitation related diseases such as cholera, Uganda Red Cross with support from the Cartier Foundation are implementing a long term WASH integrated project targeting fishing communities in Nebbi and Packwach districts in West Nile, Northern Uganda.

The project includes the extension of piped water from Nyarwodo gravity flow scheme to Mamba Trading Centre, Alala center and connection of 15 villages with a total of 150 households, three institutions (Padwot Primary school, Mamba Secondary school , and Padwot Midiere Health Center 111 which are serving a population of approximately 2700 people.

While addressing the media at the handover of the Ugx 1,787,100,000/= project, Robert Kwesiga, Uganda Red Cross Secretary General said the project is supported by the Cartier team and the International Federation of the Red cross .

The project also includes installation of three boreholes located at Jafurunga, Abia – Nebbi district and Nyakiro South in Pakwach district and serving the population (1,705 persons) in Jafurunga Abia, and Nyakiro South and Rehabilitation of 5 boreholes in the areas of Kucwiny P/S, Kucwiny HCIII, Alwala East,Nyakiro P/S and Kivuje PS.

Robert Kwesiga says there is need to embark on the construction of more latrines to help communities live a healthy life.