There was drama last week at Gulu regional referral hospital when the Social Service Committee made an impromptu visit to assess the situation at the hospital and how it was handling nodding disease victims.

The leader of delegation Mr Medard Bitek Kyerezo accused medical personnel of not keeping the public informed, leading to speculations, innuendos and un-coordinated statements being made.

Because of this, he said; some parents have stopped their children from going to school for fear that their children might contract the syndrome while others have also shunned the treatment centres due to its lack of facilities and equipment.

“In each step you take, let the community know, these are their children, when you do not communicate to them, they feel neglected, Kyerezo said.

The Senior Psychiatrist at Gulu referral hospital Ms Milly Grace Lanyero however blamed politicians for failing the district, the region and the hospital with whatever action plan they put in place. 

“We have given our best to the children to see that they get back on their toes but nobody appreciates our initiative. Politicians keep on insulting us all the time,” she said.

Dr Beatrice Odokonyero who is also on the team carrying out research work on the nodding disease at Gulu University, noted that they have not been supported by the politicians and government in their struggle to combat the disease; without adequate funding and under very difficult circumstances; but instead they are being accused of not doing their job.

Over 400 children in Gulu have now been confirmed with nodding disease and 13 deaths have so far been recorded.  Gulu Hospital has received only shs10 million to treat nodding syndrome patients and Gulu University which is the main hub of research on the disease has not been given any funds to carry out effective research into the epidemic.