Gulu District Local Government is planning to open up 40 acres of land for families affected by the Nodding disease in an effort to tackle food security and nutrition. 

The LCV District Chairman for Gulu Mr Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, announced on Friday that the move is meant to improve nutrition and food security among the families that have been greatly affected by the nodding syndrome. 

Mapenduzi said that the district will open up land in the most affected sub counties so that the families are able to plant crops such as yellow flesh sweet potatoes, maize, beans and pumpkin among others crops. 

He added that the district will open up 24 acres in Odek Sub County, 10 acres in Palaro Sub County and another 6 acres in Paicho Sub County, using the six million shillings received from the Ministry of Agriculture as an intervention measure to respond to the severe malnourishment being experienced by children suffering from the nodding disease and members of their families. 

Nutrition remains a critical issue among victims of the disease since many of the parents’ times are taken up by nursing their sick children and making sure that they are not left venerable to seizures, self harm, and rape for girl victims. 

Recent reports from the Acholi sub region are indicate that children who are currently receiving treatment are showing slight improvement in so far as seizure attacks are concerned. 

Many of the children are being given sulphur valprate to free them of fits and nodding. 

Over 450 children have succumbed to the disease in the districts of Gulu, Amuru, Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader and lately Lira district. 

Scientists and researchers remain baffled by the likely cause and cure for the fatal, mentally and physically disabling disease.