A total of 50 pupils from Kaladima Primary School in Lamogi Sub County on Wednesday fainted following an immunisation exercise in a bid to combat tropical diseases. 

The pupils were earlier given Mectizena, Albendazol, Praziquantel, and Zethromax drugs. 

The official in charge of health workers in Lamogi Sub County, who also supplied the medicines at the centre, Mr. Brian Okello, confirmed the incident to Acholi Times. However, he noted that the matter was under control. 

He added that the medicine was administered to the children before they had eaten, which resulted in them fainting.  

“Some pupils developed general body weakness after swallowing Praziquantel, yet it’s advised to eat before taking it that’s how the children were affected,” he said.  

“We were able to get to the ground quickly and the children recovered immediately after getting for them food to eat,” he added.  

The District Health Officer (DHO) for Amuru district, Dr. Patrick Okello Olwedo, noted that he had sent a team on the ground to investigate the matter as he also tried to get updates from the Ministry of Health. 

The drugs supplied are part of the launch of mass immunization against river blindness in the Acholi sub region, which was launched by President Museveni early this year.  

On the first day, children were given two types of drugs and on the second day, given one type, Praziquantel,  which is suspected to have caused the in weakness in the pupils.  

Teachers were first trained by the health workers on how to give the medicines and deal with its side effects if children reacted badly to it.  

Elders in the region have accused the government of unveiling and embarking on the programme without proper plans on its implementation process and without consultation.