Via The Monitor: From nodding syndrome to malnutrition. Excerpt:
Children suffering from nodding disease syndrome have been exposed to malnutrition, a thing that has created a fresh distress to the already suffering region. The deficiency disease has been caused by inadequate intake of food and poverty which has exposed the children to otherwise preventable deaths.
In Pader District, the in-charge of Atanga nodding disease treatment centre, Mr David Nokrachlast, last week said malnutrition among the children is a big issue as majority of them brought to the centre exhibit the signs.
“Our concern is that the parents take long to bring their children for treatment. By the time they bring them, they are already malnourished that exposes them to risks,” Mr Nokrach said.
Health officials cited those not on fortified food and sodium volprate treatment that control seizures, as the most malnourished category. They said seizures compromise their ability to eat.
Food offers
Treatment and the fortified foods supplied by the government are only administered to the children who are already at the treatment centres in Aganga in Pader District, Palabek-Kal in Lamwo District and Kitgum Hospital treatment centre in Kitgum District.
Parents have raised complaints that their efforts to have adequate food for the sick children have been curtailed by their inability to leave the children alone in treatment centres to engage in cultivation.
Ms Alice Oyella, a mother to two children suffering from nodding disease and are also malnourished, said the risk could spread to them.
“We are extremely vulnerable, not only the children who are malnourished but even us the care takers because we don’t have enough food in our homes.”
