If you're concerned about nodding syndrome, click on the link and start following Mark Cox on Twitter. That's how I found this New Vision report from early June, before I was really paying attention: Matembe breaks down over nodding disease children. Excerpt:
The former minister of ethics and integrity, Miria Matembe shed tears over the plight of children affected by the nodding disease.
Matembe broke down when she was making an appeal to all Ugandans to come to the rescue of over 200 children affected by the nodding disease in northern Uganda.
“I feel touched about the suffering of these children who some have fallen into the fire and are tied on the trees,” Matembe said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Matembe, who could hardly hold back her tears, implored Ugandans to give money, clothes and food items to support the families taking care of children suffering from the nodding disease.
The impact of the disease has led to a high drop-out of pupils from schools and has hindered mothers from attending to their gardens as they remain home to look after the affected children.
Government has staked sh7 billion to address the impact of the disease but sh35b is required to curb the disease.
Matembe appealed to Government to put more efforts to combat the disease which struck northern Uganda early this year.
The former minister made the remarks at St. Jude Catholic Church Naguru in Kampala during the launch of a campaign programme to raise funds and any items to support the ill children and their families.
