As rains continue pouring on the Lake Albert shoreline, communities that have been badly hit by floods since last year now fear a possible cholera outbreak as indispensable facilities continue being submerged posing a health tragedy to the Lakers.
The rains have already impacted on water sources with some boreholes submerged into the flooded lake water at Bugoma and Butyaba landing sites in Kikuube and Buliisa districts respectively.
Besides, several latrines have also been submerged and put out of purpose by the flooded water of the lake that many depend on for domestic use more importantly for drinking as numerous spots of stagnant water are also in sight.
Godfrey Abigaba, the Kibiro Fishing Village Chairman in Hoima District, is in fear of a probable cholera outbreak among the crowded flood victims given the inadequate sanitary facilities coupled with the migrations from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other parts of Uganda.
Robert Mugabe, the Buliisa District Health Educator, says fear should be on malaria and bilharzia than cholera because vaccination for the latter was conducted two years ago.
According to him, malaria, dysentery and bilharzia cases are already on the rise in the district due to floods and growing bushes, revealing that so far 50 per cent of patients received at health centres are suffering from malaria.
He advises and urges people to sleep under mosquito nets, drink boiled water alongside avoiding stepping in waters with barefoot to prevent malaria, cholera and bilharzia respectively.
