Kony War Stops Efforts to Treat Filariasis
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The East African (Nairobi)February 2, 2004
Posted to the web February 3, 2004 David Kaiza
Nairobi
Twenty-one districts are said to be seriously affected by the disease, which has an infection rate of 15 to 20 per cent THE WAR in northern Uganda has prevented almost four million people from accessing drug treatment for lymphatic filariasis, one of the most endemic but neglected diseases which has been targeted for elimination by the World Health Organisation.
The country has never had prevention or treatment campaigns for the disease, which causes the swelling and wastage of legs and reproductive organs.But now under the Global Alliance for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis, drugs have been made available for communities at risk in Uganda.
The drugs have however been lying in stores and Dr Dawson Mbulamberi, assistant commissioner for health services, said, "We cannot distribute them in the districts because of the war."Uganda is now stuck with the drugs - Ivermectin and Albendazole - meant for a programme, in which a two-drug combination is supposed to be given out annually for at least five years in the war-ravaged north. Some Ush600 million ($300,000) has been budgeted for the programme.Under the Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (PELF), the World Health Organisation in 1999 unveiled a project to meet its global target of eliminating the disease.
A number of countries which included Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Tanzania, Benin, Burkina Faso, Uganda and Yemen were targeted.In Uganda, 21 districts are said to be seriously affected by the disease, which at an infection rate of between 15 and 20 per cent, is a significant social problem. Ten of these districts are facing insecurity, given the escalation in June last year of the rebel war waged by the Lord's Resistance Army of Joseph Kony.
The drugs distribution programme has now been put on hold indefinitely.Lira, Apac, Nakapiripirit, Soroti, Kaberamaido, Kumi and Katakwi are the worst affected districts by the disease and insecurity. "If we distributed these drugs in 10 districts this year, we could treat 4 million people," Dr Mbulamberi said.
Lymphatic filariasis, whose most obvious symptoms are elephantiasis, which is a swelling of the legs, and hydroceles, a swelling of the male reproductive organs and crotch infection in women, is classified as one of the seven neglected diseases in Africa in which little research has been carried out. The other neglected diseases are sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, hydatid, kalazar, schistosomiasis and buruli ulcer.
The disease is widespread, but the number of people afflicted is unknown because hospitals and clinics which can keep records are non-existent and also those affected, especially women, prefer to keep it a secret.Because of this, the treatment programme has been designed to dispense the drugs to entire populations that are under risk.
Since the disease does not kill, those afflicted tend not to seek treatment.But Dr Mbulamberi said it is also because the disease has come to be seen as an inevitable burden and sufferes are stigmatised for life.
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