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Malaria remains the leading killer disease
By John Thawite and Raymond Baguma
MALARIA remains the leading cause of illness accounting for more than 42.3% of all cases at health facilities in Kasese district, affecting more women and children.
The district has four health sub-districts (HSDs) of Busongora north, Busongora south, Bukonzo west and Bukonzo east as the major health administrative divisions.
There are a total of 82 health units at the levels of Health Centre II, III and IV. Of these, 13 are newly functional and 10 are run by NGOs and religious-based organisations.
The disease burden in the district as of 2005 includes respiratory tract infections accounting for 18.7%, intestinal worms (6.5%), diarrhoea (3.4%), skin diseases (3.1%), trauma (2.5%) and gastro intestinal (2.3%). Others are genital infections (2.0%), eye diseases (1.9%), anaemia (1.0%), dental diseases (0.7%) and hypertension (0.7%). Other causes of illness in the district are HIV/AIDS, whose prevalence is at 11.2%.
Biira, a nurse, gives kids deworming drops at Rukoki health unit
HIV/AIDS is a major predisposing element to the occurrence of the illnesses given. TB is also markedly prevalent in the community, according to the acting district director of health services, Dr. Peter Mukobi.
A recent report by the health department reveals the productive age group (15-49 years) is the most affected by HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, which has affected development and led to an increase in number of orphans.
The report notes that there is poor health seeking behaviour by men predisposing them more to illness, thus rendering them less productive. This has had negative consequences on development in the district.
Also, low involvement of men in family planning matters has also contributed to the high fertility rate in the district.
There are hindrances to the development of the health sector and these include; inadequate funding which has led to shortage of medical equipment, essential drugs and health supplies at health centres.
There is also under staffing with only 58.5% of the approved positions being filled, according to information available at the health department.
Kasese is considered to be remote which makes it undesirable for qualified personnel to work there. With staff shortage and low salaries supervision of the health units cannot be effectively done, which affects quality of service, the report highlights.
However, there are development partners who include the Belgian Technical Cooperation, UNICEF, Save the Children, CARE, St John’s Ambulance and Uganda Red Cross, in helping this poor situation. District committed to investing in the youth
By John B. Thawite
July 11, 2006 will always remain significant in the history of Kasese as the district was privileged to host the year’s World Population Day national celebrations, the district chairman, Rev. Can. Julius B. Kithaghenda says.
Commenting on the day’s theme, “Investing in young people for national development” Kithaghenda said it is specially pertinent because the youth, who constitute the majority of the population, are a major driving force in development.
The vibrant chairman hailed government for having granted the district’s request to host the day. Kithaghenda described the day as an opportunity for the district and the country “to reflect on the populated-related challenges and the future prospects for the district and the nation.”
Welcoming guest to the district, the chairman reported that the district was waging a war against unemployment, especially among young people who constitute more than over 62% of the district’s population.
He challenged the district and other national leaders to seriously look into the young people’s plight.
He urged the youth to remain alive and avoid acts likely to expose them to death like the deadly HIV/AIDS.
Ssekandi hands over a trophy to Kilembe FC official
He regretted that the decades of war and insecurity had prevented the people from exploiting the massive potential in the district.
“According to the 2002 national population and housing census, we are undergoing demographic transition called demographic dividend or demographic gift. This is a situation where the majority of the population comprise of young people and it occurs once in a lifetime,” he said.
He said to benefit from this “gift” his leadership would strive for a clear and long-term vision to influence both short and medium term planning framework at district, sub-county and community levels.
“One of these strategies is to give the people healthcare, education skills and employment so that they are healthy, innovative and can save and thus contribute to socio-economic growth and development,” he recommended.
Kithaghenda said Uganda could learn from the example of the East Asian economic miracle of the Asia Tigers, where the nation fully- turned the population into a productive labour force.
In separate statement, he said the unpredictable weather and the hard terrain of the Rwenzori Mountains were some of the challenges facing infrastructure development.
He also expressed concern at the rapid soil degradation due to population pressure and the danger of lakes George and Edward silting.
He urged government to urgently intervene in the issue of the Basongora pastoralists currently occupying Queen Elizabeth National Park for lack of pasture for their cattle, which had soured relations with Uganda Wildlife Authority.
He says the population growth is compounded with primitive semi-nomadic grazing practices, poor water and soil conservation methods and lack of commercial farming. 
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KASESE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
