At least 230 households whose children are suffering from nodding syndrome in Omoro district have received food and nonfood items from the Indian Community in Gulu. The items worth 12.1 million Shillings include blankets, salt, sugar, basin, beans, and maize flour, with each family receiving a hamper of items worth Shillings 53,000.
Speaking during the distribution exercise in Acet Sub-County in Omoro District on Sunday, Bernard Loum, the coordinator of the charity event, said the Indian Community decided to help the families three weeks ago, as they celebrated their 77th independence on August 15th, 2023.
“They asked me to identify a community with challenges and they support them. So, we went with them to Omoro to identify the families and what kind of support they needed,” Loum said. Justine Okello Katanga, a local leader in Acet Sub-County commended the Indian community for their humanitarian gesture and appealed to other groups to emulate them.
“These are few people; the majority are in their homes. They trust us leaders to help them, but we are not doing much, but your kind words and actions will restore some hope in them,” Katanga said.
Katanga also appealed to the leaders in charge to update the list of people suffering from nodding syndrome, saying the list being used now was generated over a decade ago when very little was known about the syndrome.
“The list was generated by health workers and it is being used even by the Ministry of Health But most times many of the victims miss this kind of support because they were not registered at that time,“ Katanga said. Christine Aguti, a resident of Akoyo Village, in Awere Sub-County, thanked the Indians for supporting them with the items, saying the main challenge affecting the household affected by nodding syndrome is food shortage. According to Aguti, the poor rainfall has greatly affected their crops, yet the patients need enough food before taking their medication, lest they convulse.
Eunice Apio, another mother whose child has nodding syndrome appealed for more donations, saying limited food affects the temperament and they become wilder and sicker.
Kul Bhushan Vashisth, the chairperson of the Indian Community says their support to the families is because they consider themselves relatives. Vashisth says they are devoted to their God and their gesture is driven by their belief, and asked the families to do the same.
“I request earnestly that you keep on believing in the God who created you, and may He give you the strength to continue looking after the children,” he said. The team that also moved with some of their children, told the community about the need to inculcate good cultures in the young ones so that they grow up with kind hearts. “We came with the children so that they see and learn the art of giving from us, and you should do the same,” he said.
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