By Denis Okello (denis.okello@vol.co.ug)
Lira
A number of lymphatic filariasis patients in Lira district are positively responding to treatment courtesy of Sight Savers International in partnership with Lira district local government.
In April this year, Sight Savers rolled the registration of patients of lymphatic filariasis commonly known as elephantiasis before administering treatment and management, health education on hygiene, care and washing of the legs and others.
Elephantiasis is a painful and disfiguring disease caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) and are transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitos.
The patients were trained on how to keep their limbs clean, how to apply MCG cream and were given albendazole plus ivermetin tablets.
Plans are also underway to give financial support to the patients to allow them embark on income generating activities to enhance their economic livelihoods.
In addition, caregivers who attend to the patients on a daily basis were also brought on board, trained and facilitated to effectively care for the patients.
Bosco Ogwang, the leader of Baroganda parish in Agweng sub-county noted that all the eight patients who were trained have had signs of recuperation because of the reduced swelling on their legs.
“The patients have been washing their legs to reduce swelling. Our major challenges are that medicines sometimes come late yet the treatment should be consistent”, Ogwang said.
Ogwang however noted that they are sometimes challenged by the fact that most of the patients and their caregivers do not have phones to get information in real time because they rely only on radio stations as a reliable source of information.
Linus Ameny, the parish leader of Acelela in Agweng sub-county said the limbs of all the six patients he was taking care of have reduced significantly.
“The treatment has demystified misconception that the disease is caused as a result of witch craft”, he says.
He emphasized the need to have regular radio programs to sensitize people on how they can treat and manage the problem instead of visiting witch doctor’s shrines to seek treatment like it was in the previous years before the intervention of Sight Savers.
Additionally, he appealed that even parish coordinators should be well facilitated to enable them to round up the parish to monitor the progress of the treatment and management.
According to Ameny, there are no new cases being registered.
The district vector control officer of Lira Rashid Mwesigye Etwop told Voice of Lango fm that over 80 patients out of the 477 patients who were registered and enrolled for treatment have positively responded to treatment.
Christine Bua a resident of Lira city East Division whose 23 year old daughter is a patient of elephantiasis commended Lira district local government and Sight Savers International for a well thought out program to improve her child’s health.
Imat Anna Omara of Amach town council said she no longer feels too much pain after getting enrolled in management unlike in the past where she could have sleepless nights as a result of pain.
