• What is UNN?
  • Why UNN?
  • Our Team
  • Support Us
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
  • Login
  • Home
  • Featured stories
  • Editors Choice
  • Trending Stories
  • News
  • Africa Today
  • Opinion
  • Literature
  • Videos
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured stories
  • Editors Choice
  • Trending Stories
  • News
  • Africa Today
  • Opinion
  • Literature
  • Videos
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
UNN Times
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Experts Call for Extensive Research into the Nodding Disease Syndrome

Moses Kalaire | UNN Times ReporterbyMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
February 24, 2023
in News, Uganda
0
Experts Call for Extensive Research into the Nodding Disease Syndrome

Dr Sylvester Onzivua (L) stresses a point as Prof Michael Pollanen (2ndL) and Col Dr Victoria Nekesa (2ndR) listens. Dr Charles Ayume (R) is the chairperson - Health Committee. (Photo/Courtesy)

15
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

KAMPALA – Health experts from Mulago – Uganda’s National Referral Hospital and the University of Toronto – Canada have urged government to consider extensive research on the nodding disease syndrome – which continues to inflict pain onto children in the Acholi sub-region.

The experts who included Dr Sylvester Onzivua – a consultant pathologist at Mulago Hospital and Prof Michael Pollanen – a pathologist at the University of Toronto appeared before the Committee on Health to present preliminary findings on a study – which the Canadian researcher had discovered on the nodding syndrome disease in Kitgum district.

RELATED STORIES

She Cranes Coach Mugerwa Threatens to Resign over Mistreatment

She Cranes Coach Mugerwa Threatens to Resign over Mistreatment

August 8, 2023
When Museveni Assured Basoga of Subsistence Life

When Museveni Assured Basoga of Subsistence Life

July 16, 2023
When Gun-violence, Brutality Dominated Law Society Report

When Gun-violence, Brutality Dominated Law Society Report

July 15, 2023
Why URA is facing a Parliamentary Probe over Recruitment

Why URA is facing a Parliamentary Probe over Recruitment

July 15, 2023

They were concerned that the disease which broke out in the 1990s and has affected over 5,000 children has no known cause and treatment.

“The early epidemiological studies showed clearly that there is a relationship between the disease and the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency, but we do not know what aspects of the war are responsible?” said Prof Pollanen adding: “We are asking: was there any environmental challenges; were there any effects on the water due to the war that affected people?”

Dr Onzivua said there was need for both clinical and epidemiological studies that would perhaps lead to a lasting solution.

“This disease can be studied. For example, one can make a detailed profile of the 5,000 cases. We also need clinical studies for those living with the disease to monitor how the disease is progressing,” he said.

He was also concerned that presently there is no laboratory method to diagnose and confirm the nodding disease, saying that scientists cannot predict and control its likely future prevalence.

The Chua West MP, Okin PP Ojara, said his constituents have harboured unanswered questions on why the disease affects only children, and why it had concentrated only in Acholi.

“We are wondering, did the problem come from the relief food given to children during the insurgency, because there were many NGOs that distributed food and provided health care,” he said adding “We are also wondering whether there were some failed vaccine trials by then.”

He said the affected communities are the most vulnerable and called for urgent humanitarian response from government.

“I request this committee to cause an urgent meeting with all stakeholders and the Office of the Prime Minister and provide immediate support because we have observed that when children with the syndrome are fed well they improve,” said Ojara.

Committee Chairperson, Dr Charles Ayume, said his team would visit the affected communities to determine the next course of action.

“The committee is interested in visiting the affected communities, interface with local leaders, political leaders, and the health facilities such that when we cause a meeting we are acting from an informed point of view,” said Ayume.

Dr Ayume also justified the need for research stating;

“there is an unanswered part of science that calls for continuous research; there may be new cases, there could be upcoming signs that require follow up, so research is required for these neglected tropical diseases.”

Tags: Mulago HospitalNodding DiseaseParliament of UgandaUniversity of Torontounntimes
Previous Post

President Museveni Brags how Banyonkole have become Rich

Next Post

Uganda to Host EAC Petroleum Conference

Related Posts

Ugandans Run to Court Seeking to Nullify Anti Homosexuality Act

byRonald Mugabi | UNN Times Reporter
May 30, 2023
0
Ugandans Run to Court Seeking to Nullify Anti Homosexuality Act

KAMPALA – A group of Ugandan activists - totalling to 11 have petitioned the Constitutional Court seeking to challenge the...

Read more

When Human Rights Body Registered over 4000 Complaints

byMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
May 20, 2023
0
When Human Rights Body Registered over 4000 Complaints

KAMPALA – The Uganda Human Rights Commission – UHRC has been commended for capturing socio-economic issues in their 25th annual...

Read more

Police Detain Boxing Federation Officials Over Forgery

byMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
May 17, 2023
0
Police Detain Boxing Federation Officials Over Forgery

KAMPALA – The Public Accounts Committee - PAC of Uganda’s Parliament on May 15, 2023 handed over two officials of...

Read more

Karamoja Elders Demand Minister’s Apology over Iron Sheets’ Saga

bySophie Mutesi | UNN Times Reporter
February 25, 2023
0
Karamoja Elders Demand Minister’s Apology over Iron Sheets’ Saga

KAMPALA –Elders in Kotido district have demanded that the troubled minister in charge of Karamoja Affairs apologises following the theft...

Read more

Uganda to Host EAC Petroleum Conference

byMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
February 25, 2023
0
Uganda to Host EAC Petroleum Conference

KAMPALA – Uganda will have a chance to market its petroleum potential when it hosts the East African Petroleum Conference...

Read more

No More Foreign Trips, Purchase of Vehicles for Government Employees

byMoses Kalaire | UNN Times Reporter
February 21, 2023
0
No More Foreign Trips, Purchase of Vehicles for Government Employees

KAMPALA – The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development has restricted foreign trips to only the executive, judiciary, and...

Read more
Next Post
Uganda to Host EAC Petroleum Conference

Uganda to Host EAC Petroleum Conference

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

About us

UNN is a new people powered TV channel, Radio station and Newspaper leading the revolution. We’re a media outlet focused on inspiring and empowering you while telling the truth, because as they say, the truth will set you free.

Recent

She Cranes Coach Mugerwa Threatens to Resign over Mistreatment

Why the NRM Gov’t Can Never Meaningfully Conserve Uganda’s Environment

Linking Ugandan Society to Military Occupation, Militarisation and Criminalisation

The Concept of types of Knowledge and its Integration

Of Ugandans’ Craziness for Modernisation

Advancing Science in African Universities through Integration Experience

Follow Us

Tweets by GetUNN

Facebook

© 2023 UNN Times

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured stories
  • Editors Choice
  • Trending Stories
  • News
  • Africa Today
  • Opinion
  • Literature
  • Videos
  • Sports

© 2023

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.