Margret Naiwumbwe, a resident of Namutumba town council lost two grandchildren within a space of five days in January this year to an unknown illness. Three other children are battling the same illness. According to Naiwumbwe, her grandchildren contracted the infection and started suffering persistent breakdowns within three days.
She explained that the infected minors pass out urine contaminated with blood, develop uncontrolled pain in their private parts, lose appetite and experience dizziness. The children also vomit bloody fluids, release mucus-like substances in their noses, turn anaemic, their bodies become yellowish and eventually die.
Naiwumbwe says that health facilities in the district have not provided any lasting solution to the problem, which has affected several homes.
Ezeleda Nabirye, another resident within Namutumba town council says that she lost two children within the first week of February. She says that that duo consistently urinated blood-like substances for about four days without registering any improvements despite receiving treatment at Nsinze health center IV for the same.
Nabirye says that health workers directed her to supplement the children’s medication with frequent fruit juices and maintain proper sanitation. She, however, says that her efforts didn’t much as the children eventually succumbed to the illness.
Florence Kaada, a resident of the Market zone, in Namutumba town council says that she lost her one-year-old grandson enroute to Mbale regional referral hospital where they had been referred for further management because of the strange illness.
Kaada says that four of her neighbours within the same village have lost their children to this strange illness, adding that it might spread to the entire community if it is not addressed on time.
A health worker at Nsinze health center IV who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity since they are not authorized to speak to the media said that they first noticed the strange illness in Namutumba town council on January 5th, 2022.
He says that they applied antimalarial treatment but eventually the child succumbed to the disease one week later. He said that another member from the same family also succumbed to the same disease.
The source says that they have registered dozens of similar cases at their health facility among children between the ages of eight months to seven years from different parts within the district with 78% fatalities.
James Kiirya, the Namutumba District Officer declined to comment about the matter, saying that they are still collecting data from the affected communities before issuing a conclusive statement.
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