Malaria, diarrhoea cases top Buseruka Health Centre III data

Hoima district’s Buseruka Health Centre III is currently worried about the increasing malaria and unhygienic illnesses in the communities.

Dr Patrick Bigirwa, the in charge of Buseruka Health Centre III, told tndNews, Uganda, that 30% of the cases recorded at the facility monthly are malaria patients.

Also, 40% of the recorded patients reported diseases like diarrhoea and dysentery, which Bigirwa attributed to poor hygiene.

“Malaria and diarrhoea are some of the key diseases that are highly registered at the facility. Recorded are those with poor hygiene-related diseases, including diarrhoea, among others,” he said.

He warned against the misuse of government nets and poor hygiene in most homes.

Speaking about the cause of diarrhoea, Bigirwa disclosed that most communities in Buseruka sub-county do not have toilets, and they go for open defecation.

Despite several government and other stakeholders’ interventions through the distribution of treated mosquito nets, the growing trend at the facility equally bothers medical workers at the facility.

However, Bigirwa was unable to provide appropriate statistics indicating an increase.

Beatrice Wembabazi, the Hoima District woman MP, gets surprised by the situation facing the facility, calling for immediate government intervention.

Mbabazi called for the need to find out cross-cutting issues affecting service delivery within health facilities for proper interventions.

Geoffrey Kumakech, the Buseruka sub-county district councillor, says they are going to conduct enforcement together with the health inspectors and Village Health Teams (VHTs) to find out which homes do not have toilets to ensure proper hygiene.

A community member, Akumu Jeska W, who seeks medication from the same facility, however, disclosed that the facility is faced with poor health service delivery, with patients not being attended to, especially during weekends.

“We keep at the facility with no one attending to us, especially during the weekend days since all the health workers will have gone for holidays,” he said.

“The government should take a keen interest in solving some of these issues,” she urged.