Gulu mayor George Labeja has urged his fellow leaders to get tested and vaccinated against Hepatitis B, a disease with high prevalence rates in northern Uganda.
Labeja made the remarks on Wednesday while paying his last respects for the former Bardege Division Chairman, Okoya Kende Tonny who died early this week after a long illness with Hepatitis B.
‘‘The campaign to get rid of Hepatitis B has begun with me where I got tested and vaccinated as well as the speaker and the town clerk and this program is going to be rolled out to other councilors,’’ the mayor said.
The mayor asked the public to make contributions in support of the living than wait to show overwhelming support when one is dead.
He said the fallen Bardege Chairman had been battling illness for a long time but he never got much assistance from those claiming to be his friends in death.
Since his election the deceased Bardege Chairman has been battling illness which affected his ability to execute his duties.
His family said their late father was their only bread winner.
Gulu Municipality Town Clerk, Francis Byarabanawe, said the late had been able to run the affairs of Bardege in an open and transparent manner and with little resources.
In August, residents of Unyama Sub County petitioned the district local government speaker over the Hepatitis B scourge which is on a rampant increase in the region.
Statistics from the Gulu district health office indicates that Bardege division were the fallen chairman hailed, leads with over 5,460 cases infected with hepatitis followed by Laroo with 4,450 cases and Pece coming third with 1,026.
Celestino Ojok, the district health educator told Acholi Rimes that Hepatitis B infections are on the increase in the district with the majority unaware of their status.
Hepatitis B prevalence rates in northern Uganda is one of the highest in northern Uganda with statistics putting it at more than 20%, higher than the HIV/Aids prevalence rates.
The late Okoya will be buried tomorrow(Thursday) tomorrow at his home in Kabedopong, Berdege divison in Gulu municipality.
By Ronnie Layoo
