Residents of Busia County have been urged to visit public health facilities for diagnosis and treatment, in case they are bitten by dogs or other stray animals.
Speaking during a Technical Working Group forum, at the Busia County Referral Hospital, Wednesday, Busia Sub- County Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Co-ordinator, Charles Omeny, noted that many cases of dog bites in the County are not reported to public health facilities.
“In many cases, victims of dog bites want to solve the cases at home and visit private clinics for medication, where they are only given pain killers,” he said.
Omeny added that public hospitals have professionals who will administer anti-tetanus and anti-rabies injections to the victims in order to protect them from any further harm.
“If a patient waits until he/she sees the signs of rabies, then there is no reverse, ‘he said, adding that many cases of delayed treatment have led to death.
He further said that jigger infestation, another neglected tropical disease, was rampant in Butula, Teso South, Nambale, Matayos but victims fear coming out for treatment due to stigma.
The Official appealed to all residents infected by jiggers to come out for registration in order to benefit from a mass treatment exercise, that is being planned by the Department of Health.
“We will treat all those who are jigger infested and disinfect their living environment,” he said, adding that victims of snake bites should also access public health facilities for treatment.
Busia County Co-ordinator for TB and Leprosy, Mary Aseyong, said that the County was recording an increase in cases of leprosy, also a neglected tropical disease.
“Before the year 2020, we were recording up to 20 cases of leprosy annually,” she said, adding that Alupe leprosy centre has been receiving referral cases from the entire East African Region.
Aseyong added that the Centre registered six leprosy clients in 2020 but the number rose to 14 in 2021.
“In 2022, we registered 17 cases, while last year we received 10 leprosy clients,” she said, adding that late diagnosis of the disease can lead to irreparable deformities.
She pointed out that a number of leprosy clients come from Teso South around, Asinge and Ngelechom areas, Teso North, Nambale and Matungu areas, Bunyala and Samia and Siaya County
“We also have children suffering from leprosy, meaning that there is ongoing transmission within the Community,’ she said.
The Official further said that the disease is curable within a period of six months or one year depending on its severity.
The Forum brought together stakeholders from relevant departments, to chart way forward on how to curb the Neglected Tropical Diseases.
By Salome Alwanda
