Ms Ketty Adoch, a 17- year- old girl suffering from Nodding Syndrome has spoken strongly against men who are taking advantage of girls suffering from the unexplained neurologic condition.
Reports indicate that at least 15 girls affected by nodding syndrome were sexually abused in the districts of Gulu, Pader and Kitgum in the last two years.
Adoch who have overcome the syndrome and enrolled for a six- month vocational training in sweater- knitting said, “Children affected by Nodding Syndrome are full of life and if given an opportunity, they can be useful citizens.”
Adoch who has only two months to graduate says she plans to set up a knitting shop so that she can provide for her three other siblings who have been affected by Nodding Syndrome as well as her ageing grandmother.
But she raised fears that procuring the knitting machines worth Shs5M is beyond her means and asked any well-wisher to support her so that they can live a decent life after receiving the skills.
She also appealed to parents who are traumatized by the condition to treat their children equally and asked them to take these children to school so that they attain their dreams.
At the age of 8, Adoch started to experience an unexplained neurologic condition characterized by episodes of repetitive dropping forward of the head, often accompanied by other seizure-like activity, such as convulsions or staring spells.
At one time, she fell in a fire that almost burned her whole body.
Although she survived, she lost seven of her fingers in the incident.
Ms Christine Apio, the Communications Officer for Hope for Humans, a local None Governmental Organization supporting children and families affected by Nodding Syndrome says majority of the sufferers wander uncontrollably making them vulnerable.
According to Apio, “When Adoch was first admitted to the center at Odek in Gulu district, she was weak but very aggressive. There is a lot of improvement on teenagers who have given a lot of hope to other children who have been greatly affected.”
Adoch is one of the 40 children who have so far shown signs of recovery and have gone back to school.
Mr Michael Cankara, the Focal Point Person Nodding Syndrome for Gulu says, “Those who are put on sulphur valprate have shown full signs of recovery and beaten the syndrome.”
