Hydrocephalus which also known as “water in the brain, “can cause death

By Abalo Irene Otto 9th, March 9, 2012

Opak Rwot Ivan a primary five pupil of Pece Pimary School can not do much of what his fellow colleagues in the class can do because of physical disability.

Opak Rwot has hydrocephalus which is also known as “water in the brain,” a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain.

This may cause increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head, convulsion, tunnel vision, and mental disability. Hydrocephalus can also cause death but for Opak Rwot, he has lived and now goes to school

Hellen Achan, the Headmistress of Pece Primary School says that she pays special attention to Opak Rwot who has hydrocephalus and is paralyzed in the leg is so passionate about education and cries when his teachers mark him wrong.

Josephine Lamuno,a teacher of Opak Rwot says that he at times comes late though he says nearby at Pece Pawel.Lamuno adds that the pupils are supportive and this encourages Opakwrot to be social and friendly though slow in speech and writing.

CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda located in the city of Mable, in Mbale District, in Uganda’s Eastern Region handles such cases of hydrocephalus and many such children have benefited from to have their children cured.

FIRST STEP ON MY NEW LIMBS, AMPUTETED LAND MINE SURVIVORS’ TALES

By

Abalo Irene Otto

“Move your limb, try to move it a bit. No no no, not like that. Let’s try again.” An orthopedic therapist tells an amputee. “Good. Take another step.”

These are instructors at the orthopedic department of Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. The amputee, Justine Olweny is trying his new artificial limbs made at the orthopedic workshop.

The workshop makes about four artificial limbs every month for patients from the 7 districts of Acholi Sub region and beyond. At the workshop, priority is given to land mine survivors of the two decade Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency.

Photo: An orthopedic explains to ICC officials Motoo Noguchi (L) and Judge Fenandez (R) how a Swiss limb is made at orthopedic workshop at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital early this month.

Today Ojwany Justine 57, from Atiak Sub County, Amuru district is learning to take his first step after stepping on a land mine in 2003.

Ojwang is a double amputee, he has to balance his weight to take the first step says Lucy Angee, the physiotherapist training him how to work.  It will take Ojwang about one month to walk on his new limbs made from Gulu Regional Referral Hospital Orthopedic Workshop.

“It is difficult to learn how to walk at my age. I feel helpless but I have to practice so that I can do something to care for my family.” Opiyo tells this paper while standing with the support of his artificial limb holding a pair of crochets.

Photo: A land mind survivor fitted with a new Swiss artificial limb at the orthopedic workshop of Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.

Irene Laker, 36 years, a former business woman from Pece Tegwana, Gulu Municipality lost her left limb to land mine In August 2002 after an attack by the LRA in her area.

“Life was difficult and I had to turn to God for Courage. I recovered but life was hard because I would always fall down due to imbalance.” Narrates Irene,” When I got my artificial limbs, life changed and things were a lot easier for me.” She adds with a smile.

Hawa Muhumuza, an orthopedic technologist at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital says they patients come to the workshop hopeless and weary.

“On getting their limbs fixed, it’s not easy but it is always a joy to watch them hope for a better life. Our prayer is that they find their fulfilment in life with these artificial limbs that we give them free of charge.” Says the orthopedic technologist.

At 76 years, Alice Acayo is an amputee in the upper right knee due to land mine planted near her home in Lamwo 11 years ago by LRA rebels. She is at the orthopedic workshop to have her worn out limbs replaced after using it for five years.

Fetching water and selling at a local market in Lamwo town is what Alice does to earn a living after getting her artificial limb from Gulu Orthopedic Workshop five years ago.

“Because of my new limbs, I can now do some things on my own without assistance which makes me happy. People were tired of lending a hand always.” Says a joyful Alice to ICC President Fernandez.

Judge Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was in Uganda early this month to visit victims of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels benefiting from Trust Fund for Victims assistance projects in Northern Uganda. She says the fund can only support a few but not all who need assistance.

Trust Fund for Victims is supporting war victims with physical rehabilitation through local partners like AVSI that is supporting the orthopedic works to provide free limbs to the disadvantaged communities who cannot afford orthopedic services on their own.

Dr Augustine Mindra, the senior Orthopedic at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital says a limb in private facilities could cost between 1million to 1.5 million depending on the service provider.

He encouraged amputees to access the free orthopedic service at the Gulu Regional Referral Hospital to improve their livelihoods.

Approximately 45,000 war victims have benefited from the Trust Fund for Victims in the last eight years since the ICC started channeling funds to war victims in Uganda. The funds were used in physical and psychosocial rehabilitation, support livelihood programs and medical operations of those with bullet wounds and shrapnel in their bodies.

 

Counterfeit Uganda Shillings in circulation in Omoro district.

By

Abalo Irene Otto

Uganda Shillings used for trade in the country

 Police in Omoro district are cautioning traders to be vigilant due to alleged infiltration of counterfeit money into the market that could affect trade in the entire Acholi sub region.

This comes after two men were arrested today from Awali Village in Odek Sub county, Omoro district as they tried to purchase goods with counterfeit money worth 13 million Uganda shillings. The two men were arrested and detained at Odek Police Post. Their files are being prepared and will appear before court tomorrow.

Bosco Ocen Olukuwode, the Omoro district OCCID declined to provide details of the two men in their custody because they are part of a bigger gang dealing in counterfeit money and the issue is still under investigation.

” We have the two men in our custody but were are still looking for the others still at large. We suspect that the money could already be in circulation and the public should come out with information so that the culprits are prosecuted in the courts of law. This could affect business in the whole region.”

 The police appreciated the people of Odek for reporting the suspects and urged them to report suspicious characters in their community because more counterfeits are believed to be coming from Lira to Odek and other parts of the region.

IRS insecticides being used to commit suicide in Omoro.

By

Abalo Irene Otto

Leaders in Omoro district have been asked to investigate how the Indoor Residual Spraying insecticides, (IRS) known to reduce malaria transmission, were used in Binya Parish, Odek Sub County in Omoro district that has so far led to the death of four people this year.

IRS Spraying is done on walls of houses to repel and kill mosquitoes that cause malaria

This comes after a man on Monday allegedly committed suicide using the insecticide leaving behind two widows and nine children.

Tito Okello, 39 years and a resident of Orapwoyo Village, Binya Parish in Odek Sub county Omoro district was buried yesterday at his ancestral home in Orapwoyo village. He was a peasant and had portrayed a reserved behavior before he committed suicide.

According to Matthew Olobo, the former chairman LC3 of Odek Sub County who attended the funeral, the deceased left a brief note asking people to take care of his three wives and nine children. He says that the misuse of the IRS insecticides has caused a lot of suffering for the people of Binya parish.

” He died while being taken to Lalogi health center. We think the leaders should call all the Village Heath Team and investigate the how people who were spraying did their work. We can not continue to loose people like this. We know that there is trauma still in our community that needs counselling but this needs urgent attention to help our people.” 

In Uganda, the Northern region has the highest suicide rates and the doctors believe that it is as a result of the different mental disorders while others do it out of desperation.

IRS was reintroduced in Uganda in 2006 after a long period of no IRS interventions since 1960. Initial IRS activities were conducted in epidemic prone districts in the south-western part of Uganda before shifting to the highly endemic regions of northern Uganda as stipulated in the WHO position statement on IRS. Initial pilot spray rounds in northern Uganda used dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT).

Related story

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Gulu Go Green Marathon to make the district green this April

By

Abalo Irene Otto

Gulu District Local Government together with Community Empowerment Education and Development, CEED an NGO working to conserve the environment have yesterday day launched the Gulu Go Green Marathon that is slated for the first of April 2017 covering a distance of 5 to 15 kilometers within the municipality. The marathon is to fund raise and create awareness on the need to plant more trees to conserve the environment. The theme for the 2017 Marathon is “Conserve now, Guarantee Tomorrow.”

Bernard Loum, head of programs CEED Uganda told a media press conference at Northern Uganda Media club that the district has taken up the marathon and made it an annual event because of its benefits to the environment and the people.

Martin Mapenduzi launching the marathon at Northern Uganda Media Club, Gulu as Bernard Loum, the Head of programs CEED looks on. 

CEED plans to plat over 30,000 tree seedlings with support from National Forest Authority and other partners and schools, along road sides among other institutions not only to conserve the environment but also to beautify the district.

“We realized last year that the efforts of the district chairman in fighting indiscriminate tree cutting needed joint efforts. So we decided to partner with other organizations and institutions to plant more trees.  People do not want to realize that the extreme weather conditions that we are now experiencing is as a result of negative human activities on the environment.”

Lt Hassan Kato, the UPDF 4^th division spokesperson pledged to work with the community in planting more trees and conserving the environment.

 “If look back to last year around march when we suffered the water crisis, As the UPDF, we are committed to partner in conserving the environment that is why when you go to all these army facilities, the barracks and brigades, they are always green.”

 CEED picked a component of tree planting last year because of the need within the district as part of the efforts to combat the negative efforts of climate change that is embedded in Sustainable development Goal 13 that emphasizes on concerted efforts to combat climate change.

The project planted 5,000 trees seedlings in 15 schools around primary schools within the district and the pupils were part of the team that took care of the trees.

Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, Gulu district Chairman officially endorsed the launch of preparatory activities towards the Gulu Go Green Marathon and urged members of the public to take part in conserving their environment so that the district ceases to witness extreme weather conditions again.

The chairman called for collective efforts to re-afforestate in areas where trees have been cut down.

“We cannot continue to eat the trees that our grandfathers planted and replace none. This is dangerous to us and some of these trees are old, they need to be cut and fresh ones planted to add value to the environment.” Mapenduzi adds, “As for me, I am going to plant trees for my children and myself to enjoy, I don’t know about you and your children.”

Meanwhile, Gulu district local government is planning to mobilize members of the public to embrace tree planting to conserve the environment and also green the district to combat the negative effects of climate change in the district.

The road reserves will be identified in consultation with the district engineer to be lined with trees and individuals in that land own the trees planted in their area.

Martin Ojara Mapenduzi adds that much as beautiful roads are being constructed within the district, they would look better with tree lining at both sides just like the British did in the municipality during their era in the town.

The seedlings will be provided to the district during the Go Green Marathon run on 1^st April.

 Moses Abonga, the Chairman LCIII of Laroo division told radio Rupiny that the division already has drawn plans to plant trees along the roads both old and new roads.

 “In Laroo division, we have already moved ahead and we are want to plant more trees along the roads, both new and old ones.”

 Howver, there has been general outcry in the community that trees planted by government official never grow because of poor timing of the planting season and inadequate care for the trees.

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Apaa parents want better schools for their children

By

Abalo Irene Otto

Communities in Apaa parish in Pabo sub county Amuru district are concerned by the manner in which their area is being neglected in issues of development.

According to the parents in Apaa, ther children have big dreams to attain education but cannot due to the nature of the schoold that exist in the area.

Grace Anek, a mother of three from Coro village in Apaa Parish told Radio Rupiny that they are living in peace in the community. However, her children are not attending the best schooling because the only community school in her area stops in Primary three and she has to transfer her children to town to study with relatives which is inconveniencing to them.

Anek says that her son wants to become a doctor but she worries for the conditions under which her son studies, sitting on bricks in a grass thatched classroom about 5 kilometers from home. She appeals to district officials to construct schools in Apaa where their children can get good education.

“I also want my children to excel in their education but when i look at the distance they have to travel and the classrooms they sit in i get worried. My son seats on bricks and in a grass thatched class with inadequate teachers to guide him.” She says.” How will he then become the doctor he wants to be? The district should put at least some structures and improve on the conditions of these community schools so that our children can study well,” adds Anek.

Okot Atanasio from Goro B is the chairman of the business community in Apaa. He says the people of Apaa, want development of social amenities from the government because they want to forget the past conflicts and move on in peace.

Atanasio asked government to consider the people of Apaa who also want development like other parts of the country, Uganda.

” We no longer want conflict, we want the government of Uganda to know that the people of Apaa also exist and they need development in terms of social amenities to improve our lives.”

Apaa Parish in Amuru district has 24 community schools without any government aided institution of learning.

Apaa, the land of honey and edible rats

By

Abalo Irene Otto

The word ‘‘Apaa’’ to many in northern Uganda and beyond is associated with conflict over land and the dramatic 2015 incident in which a group of elderly women undressed before two ministers and a host of other government officials.

The women were protesting what they termed the ‘‘grabbing of their land.’’ Apaa is claimed by both Amuru and Adjumani district. Amuru is occupied by the Acholi while the Madi is occupied by the Madi. The conflict threatened to pit the two tribes against each other.

But how would the people of Apaa want to be known by those outside of Apaa?

Last week I and two colleagues on the Voices for Peace radio programme, a production of the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) with support from USAID- SAFE, set out to Apaa to speak to locals and find out how they would want to be known.

The interviews from Apaa will result into the production of a 20 minutes broadcast—Voices for Peace radio—which broadcasts on five Gulu-based radio stations reaching listeners in Apaa.

We set off from NUMEC for the two hours’ drive to Apaa. The road between Lamogi and Labongogali was a rough ride but as we branched off to Okungedi, it turned out to be a smooth ride on a straight road that looked recently graded leaving a cloud of dust behind as the Boda boda and other road users struggled to move to their various directions on the about 2.5 meter width of the road. This is the only road that leads to Adjumani district. As we entered Apaa, just about five hundred meters away from the busy center, a hunter emerged from the bush with a beaming smile and a fat edible rat, a local delicacy, dangling in his one hand and a spear in the other. Standing akimbo, the hunter waved at us invitingly

“Hello,’’ he said ‘‘This one is only 20,000 shillings. It is my best for today, can you take it. You will enjoy.”

The hunter, we learnt is Simon Komakech, a resident of Omer Junction in Apaa parish. Komakech is a senior four dropout of Pabbo secondary school. On a good day he gets 50,000 shillings from selling edible rats and squirrels, he told us.

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Komakech is also a subsistence farmer planting simsim and cassava to provide for his old mother who can no longer afford to pay him in school (How old is Komakech?)

“My parents are now old and cannot afford to take me back to school. I do this[hunting] to make  some money and to care for the family,’’ he said adding ‘‘But life here is good because I can make money any time I want as long as I can get into the bush to hunt.”

For those who have never been to Apaa, Komakech says it’s a land of honey and edible rats.

In Apaa trading centre we found vegetable seller Apiyo Nancy from Lulayi East that borders Adjumani district. Apiyo told the Voices for Peace team that she is engaged in agriculture—planting cassava, simsim, maize and groundnuts.

The proceeds from her garden helps her send her four children to the local school. She, however, wants the Amuru district authorities to construct roads and bridges to enable easy access to school by children during the rainy season.

In the heart of Apaa trading centre, we met Okot Atanasio from Goro B. Okot is Chairman of the business community in Apaa.

“The Madi people come here to trade with us and we get goods from them as well. We have no problem. We are living peacefully,’’ said Okot Atanasio. ‘‘We want the government to bring for us social amenities like schools and hospitals so that we can live healthy and develop our land.”

Grace Anek lives 12kms away from Apaa trading centre. She had travelled to the market in Apaa to sell her sorghum. Anek has a son. She wants him to be a doctor. She appealed to the government to construct schools in Apaa. Apaa Parish in Amuru district has 24 community schools without any government aided primary school.

Although it shot to limelight because of a land conflict that led to the undressing of women, Apaa is like any other rural Ugandan village in which the locals are engaged in agriculture; want social services like schools, hospitals and good roads. Apaa residents also inter depend on other neighboring communities like the Madi sharing markets and selling produce from the two communities.

Edited by

Moses Odokonyero

Other relater story

http://numec.ug/apaa-the-land-of-honey-and-edible-rats/