Pakwach district is struggling to contain the surge in bilharzia cases, a major neglected tropical disease.
Statistics from the district health department indicate that 7 out of 10 individuals seeking medical services at health facilities in the district test positive for bilharzia disease.
Dr. Paul Ajal, the Pakwach District Health Officer says that several community members settled along the Nile River within the district are more vulnerable to the neglected disease. He further adds that most of the cases are left untreated in the community.
“Most of our people believe drinking unboiled water does not kill. Untreated bilharzia poses a significant threat, causing lasting damage and compromising the health of vital organs”, Ajal said.
Bilharzia also known as intestinal schistosomiasis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and disability in many fishing communities lying along large water bodies in Uganda, such as Lakes Albert, Victoria, Kyoga, and along the Albert Nile. Infection occurs when the parasite’s larvae penetrate a person’s skin during contact with infested water, often through fishing, swimming, bathing, and washing clothes.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health attributed the high Bilharzia burden in the district to poverty which prevents the residents from adopting simple disease prevention practices like boiling drinking water among others.
But, Robert Omito Steen, the Pakwach LCV Chairperson says that the situation has been worsened by the high number of people who are engaged in fishing activities in the district. He appealed to the development partners and other stakeholders to support and curb the spread of the disease.
In Uganda, bilharzia was first reported and observed in 1902 in the present-day Kuluva hospital in Arua District. Overall, Bilharzia prevalence in the country is estimated to be 29.0%, according to the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 Schistosomiasis (PMA Schisto) research findings.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 240 million people worldwide to be affected by bilharzia with 90% of this burden found in sub-Saharan Africa.
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