MASINDI RESIDENTS ACCUSED OF POLITICIZING CAMPAIGNS AGAINST MPOX DISEASE

In Masindi—–

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Masindi district  senior health educator Michael Mudu  has expressed concern over sections of people in the communities who go in places and politicise the campaign against  fight against  Mpox disease.

Mudu expressed this concern yesterday while giving closing remarks at a meeting for  key population (sex workers, mobile money operators, boda-boda’s among others. ) held at the district health resource centre on 4th December 2024..

The meeting which was organised by OBULAMU /USAID  aimed at creating awareness to participants so that they go and spread the gospel about Mpox in their respective places of work.

Mudu says health workers in Masindi have been experiencing challenges in some communities over people who go and politicize Mpox disease  thus making it hard for them to pass message to the community about the truth concerning the disease.

“Am touched with behaviour of some people  who go in the communities  and start  politicizing campaign against  Mpox disease fight , some people say that since campaigns have reached, President museveni yoweri is looking for ways of bringing back lock down with aim of wanting to talk alone like how he did during outbreak of covid 19 Mudu stated.”

“This disease is real, because it cuts across regardless of age limit,you will only realise that when you have lost relative or acquired it  mudu asserted.”

In the same meeting, district health surveillance focal person Geoffrey Kahuma revealed that currently they have 4 cases of death masindi inclusive in the country  .

He says Masindi district was the  first district in the country  to register death case related to Mpox disease .

Kahuma says the district had 4 cases including one death  adding the 3 have recovered and the health workers are now investigating new cases.

 Kahuma called upon the public to follow  rightful ways to protect themselves from the disease by avoiding close contact(face-to-face , skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth with an infected person.

Other measures are stop touching or sharing personal items like bedding, eating utensils, clothes and phones of an infected person, contact with all wild animals (alive or dead).

Fred Alinaitwe moblie operator within Masindi town one of the participants says after attending the training and acquiring some knowledge, he will ensure that he goes and implement some of the measures at his business site by sanitizing any money that he receives since money moves to anonymous sources who might be having the disease among other measures.

Atugonza tracy, bar attendant at Kijura town Says she is going to pass the message to her colleagues who couldn’t make it so that it becomes everyone’s responsibility to fight against the disease.

Atugonza adds that as advised by trainers, she will ensure that she reduces on the numbers of lovers (men) and have faithful partner  with who they will be in position