The Kadhi Acholi Muslim District Sheikh Musa Khalil has called for joint efforts in protecting victims of the nodding syndrome.
According to Sheikh Khalil, it is saddening that many children suffering from the nodding syndrome are dying as a result of drowning, falling in fires and accidents while crossing busy roads.
His plea stems from reports by local leaders in Angagura Sub County in Pader district indicating that at least 40 children suffering from the nodding syndrome have died over the last three due to falling into the fire, drowning or being run over.
According to the local leaders, the parents and guardians of the affected children have resorted to tying them with ropes or locking them inside their homes to protect them from danger. Sheikh Khalil described such acts as dehumanizing, adding that such deaths could be avoided if everyone takes responsibility for protecting the children upon themselves.
Sheikh Khalil who was speaking to URN in an interview called on the government to engage different foreign bodies and religious leaders to find the cause of the dreaded syndrome.
During a visit to Pader district last year, the Shadow Health Minister, Timothy Batuwa Lusala, said he would ask the government to avail parliament with a report on the nodding syndrome situation in the country.
Last month, renowned Ugandan pathologist Dr. Silvester Onzivua who has been investigating the cause of nodding syndrome said that Uganda alone cannot investigate the syndrome and asked for more support. There are an estimated more than 700 children suffering from nodding syndrome in Northern Uganda.
Nodding syndrome is an unexplained neurologic condition characterized by episodes of repetitive dropping forward of the head, often accompanied by other seizure-like activity, such as convulsions or staring spells.
