Nodding syndrome center in Omoro district to be re-closed.

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Written by: 
Malomo Fatuma

 

Nodding syndrome center in northern Uganda; Omoro district which was reopened on Saturday July 17 this year  is to be closed again. 
The Hope for humans nodding syndrome center in Odek sub county which was established in 2012 was first closed in December 2017 due to the funding shortfalls when its founder American neurologist Dr. Suzan Gazda withdrew her support.
It was reopened with government taking over the manishment of rehabilitationist home for four months.
 The center serves around 3-4 districts which include Omoro district, Pade district, Lira district.
According to the.... 1.6 billion shillings passed by the parliament as supplementary support, Omoro district was meant to receive Shs230M  but only recieved Shs170M  to sustain the center for four months.
Ministry of health guidelines stated that 31 millions will be on food (posho and beans) and non food items including blankets, bed sheets and mattresses, 60 millions towards patient activities and the remaining money was to secure administration and average programs.
Omor district has however, run out of funds to run the center and therefore opts for its closure in October.
"If government fails to release money in the supplementary budget, as Omoro district we shall be compelled to re-close the center." Said Peter Douglas Okao the district chairman.
He also added that to-date they have not received any response from the ministry as for the letter and budget they forwarded to them. 
However state minister in charge of general duties Sarah Opendi explained that the local leaders failed to properly utilise the funds and that they lacked detailed accountability of the resources.
"We have had challenges on accountability from district leaders. We cannot just send funds when previous funds have not been utilised and have not been accounted for," the minister asserted. 
The closure comes at a time where the district has not yet received feedback from a clinical audit that was carried out by Dr. Joyce Kaduchu and her team to confirm whether the 62 suspected cases are of nodding syndrome or eplipse. 
Nodding syndrome which is also referred to as nodding disease is a severe neurological disorder with unknown etiology in children between the age of 5 -15 years.
 It is characterized by a nodding behavior of the head that is accompanied by convulsions, staring spells or other manifestations of seizures.
This disease was first documented in Tanzania in the 1960s. 
Nodding syndrome may be caused by an inappropriate immune reaction to the parastic worm, Onchocerca volvulus, that causes onchocerciasis (river blindness); according to a report published in science translational medicine.
"I think the government should seriously provide aid for the center because I personally, am not sure the disease will only stay in Omoro district and its neighbouring districts," Said  Rosette Nansubuga a concerned mother.
Nansubuga added that she's now afraid the disease could spread untill it reaches most parts of country if not well paid attention to by the government. 
However closing the center would mean putting the lives of children at risk, increase on the number of patients with nodding syndrome.
 
 
 
 

 

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