Maracha County Member of Parliament, Denis Lee Oguzu, has asked government to come to the rescue of the people of Maracha districtfrom hepatitis B as soon as possible.
Speaking to journalists at parliament today, Oguzu said the disease is widely spread in the district and that many persons are suffering from it yet testing kits and medical supplies are not available.
He expressed concern that due to the high prevalence rates of Hepatitis B, people from the district are now discriminated against when it comes to opportunities since Maracha people are regarded as hepatitis B sufferers.
According to the Ministry of Health, Hepatitis B virus infection is highly endemic in Uganda, with transmission occurring in childhood and adulthood. Most infections occur in North eastern region including Karamoja.
Statistics also show that about 1.4 million adults are chronically infected and some communities disproportionately affected by the disease in Uganda.
The virus is mainly transmitted by sexual contact, Needle sharing to inject drugs and from mother to baby.
The Health ministry has previously rolled out the hepatitis B infant immunization programme so as to sustain and catch-up vaccination considered for older children.
However, Oguzu says the government is becoming a exclusive in the way it responds to the disease especially in Maracha County.
“I am disappointed in government because it seems to be selective in responding to the disease in Karamoja region. Whereas there have been responses to curb the spread of the disease before, our various calls for help in Maracha County are particularly neglected. We need to also be considered so that we save lives of our people,” said Oguzu .
