By Namugerwa Martha
The ministry of health with support from UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched the National intergrated comprehensive plan for cholera prevention and control plan(NICCP)2017\18 to 2021\22 to consolidate the gains in prevention and control of cholera and move towards total its elimination.
In his press release Prof. Anthony k Mbonye the assistant Director General of health services said that the plan will coordinate resource mobilization and implementation of priority targeted cholera prevention and control interventions at all levels with focus on social mobilization and community empowerment.
“Promotion of access to safe water, good sanitation and hygiene, surveillance and laboratory confirmation of outbreaks, prompt case management and infection control, complementary use of oral cholera vaccine and coordination,” Mbonye said.
He added that since communities with recurrent cholera outbreaks, implementation of NICCP 17 -22 will allow for more interventions to be carried out accelerating reduction in cholera morbidity and mortality.
Additionally, Mbonye said that according to the national development plan vision 2040, Uganda will move to the middle income status within the next few years which shall come with elimination from diseases of poverty such as cholera.
“Cholera is a preventable and treatable acute diarrheal disease caused by infection of intestines, usually transmitted through of water or food contaminated by faeces bearing the cholera organism,” Mbonye added.
Cholera remains a public health threat to communities with inadequate sanitation and safe water which affects both children and adults. About 20% of those infected develop acute, watery diarrhea.
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