According to a new report by the District Health Department, the number of children affected by the mentally and physically disabling Nodding disease in Pader district has been downplayed to 1,005, “since the outbreak came to light around 2009.”

The District Health Officer (DHO) for Pader Mr Vincent Oyet who also doubles as the focal point person on the Nodding Syndrome in Pader district said last Friday that out of a total of 1, 488 children who have been clinically examined 1,005 have been confirmed to be cases of Nodding disease. 

Oyet added that of all the cases which were subjected to medical examination at Atanga treatment centre since its inception in March 2012, 655 cases have been classified as epilepsy. 

He said that Awere is the most affected Sub County of all the 12 sub counties with 500 cases of nodding syndrome. 

At least 128 children are known to have died from Nodding disease in Pader district according to a ministry of health report released in July this year. 

These figures are refuted by the village health teams and researchers who say that the number is much higher than what is being fronted by the ministry.  The world Health Organisation (WHO) puts the overall figure of affected at just over 7000 cases. 

Jackyes Luciyamoi Onyut, the new in-charge at Atanga, said that in only two months, 800 cases were registered at Atanga, meaning that the numbers have gone up. But now that the Office of the Prime Minister is providing food (40 tones of posho and 32 of beans have been secured), the patients are steadily improving.  

“We have about eight outreach centres where we provide both food and medication to the clients,” Luciyamoi said.  

Districts in northern Uganda have failed to apprehend the depraved people who rape and defile the victims of the nodding disease who might have been left unattended by their parents. 

“They cannot be arrested since we cannot trace them, so we are waiting for the girls to recover and gain consciousness so that they can lead us to the criminals,” Pader DPC, Ambrose Sabiti, said. 

Scientists are still baffled by the disease as they continue to determine its likely cause, how it spreads and a possible cure. 

The disease which is fatal continues to ravage the Acholi districts of Gulu, Amuru, Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader and lately areas in Lango sub region.