Saturday, January 22, 2011

UGANDA CANCER INSTITUTE BATTLES AMIDST CHALLENGES

The first case of cancer to be diagnosed in Uganda was in the year 1966 but by the end of 2010 Uganda cancer institute (UCI) had received over 35,000 new cases of cancer most of which are in the late stages and patients are terminally ill. According to a recent study by the Uganda cancer institute over 20000 people die of cancer annually in Uganda.
Despite the fact, most Ugandans are not aware of the pandemic and the rate at which it is wrecking the human race. But why? “Most people get to cancer when they are emotionally related. But if you don`t have a relative you don`t even know it exists in the country” says Dr Tamale Henry, a radiographer at Mulago school of Radiology. Studies show that while in developed countries they are old people likely to catch this disease, the reverse is true in developing countries. “In the developing countries like Uganda young people are developing cancer than in the developed countries. This is due to poor feeding of children in developing countries” he says.
According to Christine Namulindwa the public relations officer Uganda Cancer Institute, on average UCI admits 86 patients a day and the numbers are promising to increase, yet those admitted are already terminally ill. “At present we admit those who are badly off but still the number is overwhelming” she says. Mulago also has an outpatient department where those in the early stages receive treatment from which also couples as a screening area with free training services offered especially to women who are prone to breast cancer which is very common in the country.
Namulindwa says 40 percent of Uganda`s population have cancer and the majority of which are under the age of 65 years. This is where five years old Elvis Mutumba of lugazi falls. The handsome young man was diagnosed of leukemia two years ago and has had three Bone marrow aspirate and biopsies (read surgeries) all unsuccessful and by the time The Razor met him at the hospital he had just had his last one and unable to sit due to much unbearable joint pain. “Every after treatment Elvis has to go for surgery” says his mother Nampera Betty, a single mother of two. “Treatment alone is very expensive. A single bottle of Asparagnaza costs thirty five thousand shillings yet he`s supposed to have five bottles every week” she says. “For a rough estimate that lady might have to pay fourty five million shillings for her son to heal” adds Christine Namulindwa the PRO. But is this really possible for retail shop keeper like Elvis’ mother? Despite being costly cancer drugs are also not available at the hospital pharmacy that patients have to buy them from outside.
The Uganda Cancer Institute is the only one in the region with radiology machine serving Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and even Kenyans cross over to Uganda for cheaper services. “Even Kenyans where it is more expensive come to Uganda yet we have only one radiology machine serving the entire region. I guess that explains the overwhelming numbers we have here. Above all we operate at a low budget.” Says Christine Namulindwa. Yet as Dr Tamale Henry says, “fifty percent of all cancer patients will at one time have to undergo radiation treatment”
Studies also show leukemia, colon cancer, cervical cancer, burkitts lymphoma, and karposi sarcoma, breast cancer among others as the most common in Uganda today. Experts advise people to eat more of vegetables and fruits and avoid too much of red meat, alcohol, cigarettes for these only increase the risk of one catching cancer. Currently the Uganda Cancer Institute has set up pilot projects in all four regions of the country and it works closely with partner organizations like Uganda women Cancer Survivors Association and Hospice Uganda who also help in the identification of patients.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

SECURITY CAR LEAVES GIRL FOR DEAD

By Brian Ssenoga Kimuli
Life is full of surprises and uncertainities and you can never tell what might happen the next hour. Yesterday morning came like the past morning but for Annet Lacristo 27, the day never ended well as she was hit by an unidentified CGS security car at a junction off Nkurumah road as she was on a bodaboda coming from National Theatre. “It was on a very high speed knocked them from behind, ran over her and the bodaboda cyclist took off. I could neither get the number of the car nor that of the bodaboda” said Kelly Wanda a Samaritan who drove her to the hospital.
According to physicians at emergency ward 3B, Lacristo had sustained a few visible injuries but the worst could at anytime happen as such patients experience internal bleeding. Kazanabyo Richard a friend said who was contacted immediately said Lacristo is a resident of Moscow zone kibuli. “but do those security cars have a right of way to the existent of beating traffic lights, running over people and running away just like that” asked Kireli Wilson a police officer who had come for treatment.

Monday, January 17, 2011

DOING BUSINESS AS A PERSON WITH DISABILITY IN KAMPALA
By Brian Ssenoga Kimuli
To some Kampala dwellers every morning comes like the past mornings, but for Joseph Kintu a father of two, a married man and business entrepreneur everyday in his life is a different one. His comes with uncertainty, fear and a lot of speculation and optimism which mostly end up not met. Kintu 36 is a person with disability, one among the vendors at Nakivubo mews but his is an extra ordinary story for he has spent 20 years at this place doing business at the same time battling KCC. This is how he tells his story:
“I have spent twenty years on the street doing business, I came as a young boy now I am a man with a wife and two beautiful children a boy and a girl. So no one can deceive me about any matters of business and street life. I know most of those KCC law enforcement officers, unless he/ she were assigned yesterday” he says.
By the mare look into his eyes one cannot fail see that Kintu has really gone through much on the streets. “Street business is not easy” he says. “You need a lot of patience here; sometimes the city council comes and impounds our staff not even minding about our physical disabilities. And when your staff has been taken to court , one thing you must do, do not follow up just look for some money somewhere else and start once again or else you will taken to Luzira as you try to get your staff back. You see we have a motto here; save yourself first before you save your business (we nunule nga tonaba ku nunula maali).
As if that is not enough some of these city council law enforcement officers go ahead and rip them of their money as they try to save their property from being confiscated by the law enforcers. Asked why and how kintu only has this to say; “you have no way out because it is the only source of income you’ve . Either you give him something and he releases you property or he takes it and your children go without school fees” he says. But how does one benefit from such an act? “Both parties involved benefit. He releases my staff and I continue working and he also gets something to live on. It is a fair game. Law enforcers are also people, they need money” says kintu, frowning.
Given their state of immobility, persons with disabilities conducting business along the Nakivubo channel have now devised means of easing their movement and saving their property in case of any emergency. They cooperate well with their able bodied counterparts who quickly rap up everything and hide it from those who want to confiscate them. “If you can look around, where there is a person with disability, the closest neighbor is one who is able bodied, that is for security purposes” says one Jamil Byakatonda selling padlocks.
Natural hazards like rain have also proved a menace to business in this area. It being at the biggest drainage channel in the city during rainy days it floods and business is not easy here. “Some of us do not have legs, you walk by your hands and when it rains you either swim in the mad or stay at home till the place is dry” says Joseph Kintu.
But where do they get their capital from, do they acquire loans? Well it is even more complicated because some financial institutions fear to lend them money because of the nature and size of their businesses. Aisha Nasuuna mother of four also a PWD attributes this to the fact that any time their property can be confiscated and no one knows when this is going to happen yet there is no security to that. “But also many of us never want to pay back loans despite that” she says. Just like kintu she believes that it is God sends them customers others wise their physically able competitors would have pushed them out of business. She boosts of her bungalow in Bweyogerere Bbuto zone, paying for her children’s school fees and looking after her sister and ailing mother. They also complain about the poor leadership among themselves and the unyielding nature of their member of parliament Nalule Sophia who they accuse of never coming back to her electorate to inform them of any proceedings ever since she was elected in 2006. “You don’t even hear that she said a word in parliament” commented one of them only identified as Kamenke. “ even we don’t know what happened to NUDIPU they last communicated to us in 2009 and got lost ever since, so we are on our own” says Kintu Joseph
ssenogabrian@yahoo.com

Saturday, January 15, 2011

ARMY DEPLOYING FOR FEBRUARY ELECTIONS.

ARMY DEPLOYING FOR FEBRUARY ELECTIONS.

Last week, UPDF Chief of Defence Forces General Aronda Nyakairma issued army guide lines instructing all commanders to stay away from partisan politics and to lay strategies to prevent any occurrence that might injure the electoral process. Meanwhile, Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo has kept on saying the army is deploying in various locations of the country particularly in northern Uganda with the intention of influencing voters.
However, Kyanjo`s allegations haven`t been received well by the army. “He should not say things that are going to push us into action. The army is going to play it`s role and that is to ensure security” said the UPDF mouthpiece Lt Col Felix Kulaije when contacted on phone. “I think Honorable Kyanjo is misinformed, the military is free to deploy anywhere in any part of the country where we sense the matter is heavy to be handled by police alone. He (kyanjo) is uninformed, the military is free to deploy. Are soldiers campaigning?” he asked.
This comes at a time when some member of parliament like Hussein Kyanjo are still unsure of the role of the army in the February elections sighting that it might be partisan. “People think that by voting the army is participating in partisan politics. Yes the army is one of the strongest pillars of the state but that doesn`t mean we do not have our right to vote” said Lt Col Felix Kulaije, confirming Lt Gen Jeje Odongo`s words when he urged the army not to be intimidated during this season when he was passing out the 517 UPDF officers at Gaddafi junior staff college in Jinja.

GAS CYLINDER KILLS ONE, INJURES THREE

By Brian Ssenoga Kimuli
Shock engulfed residents of Namirembe yesterday when a gas cylinder exploded and left one dead and three seriously injured. The incident occurred in Bwanika zone at SSekabira and sons motor garage along Namirembe road at midday.
This left one Moses Ssebunya dead and three of his colleagues Kaye Fred and another only identified as kasozi and the third unidentified with severe injuries. All the victims of the explosion were mechanics at the garage.
According to the O.C CID old Kampala police Bakaleke Siraje, the cause of the explosion had not yet been established by the time journalists got on the scene. “However, we are still working with the bomb squad to establish the cause of the incident. And later a report will be made” he said. The injured three were rushed to Mengo hospital.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

600 MILLION DOLLARS FOR FISH FARMERS IN UGANDA

At least now fish farmers in the country have a reason to smile after the government has announced to put aside 600 million dollars which is equivalent to 600 billion Ugandan shillings for the improvement of the sector.
The great long awaited news was announced by the Assistant Commissioner for fisheries Mr. Jackson Wadenya representing the state minister for agriculture at the 4th annual fish farmers` symposium at Lugogo UMA conference hall. “ Government is extending this money to fish farmers but they should also try to seek information of its availability, many fish farmers are not informed yet this business needs one to make informed decisions” he said. He also clarified that this money is mainly for starting and boosting simple aquaculture enterprises in their local areas. “Fish farmers should try to use their expertise to see that some work is being done. This money is to go to only those who have already started something” he continued, before mentioning that the project is to benefit one thousand six hundred fish farmers and is to run for five years, from now up to 2015.
This comes at a time when fish farmers are still faced with the dilemma that government policy on NAADS excludes their sector since it (NAADS) it was majorly for animal and crop growing farmers as was dictated by the Danish government who are the major funders. However, the commissioner said the ministry has already formulated an investment strategy dubbed ‘Water for production’ which caters for aquaculture as well.
Fish farmers have for long blamed the lack of a government policy which concerns their business. “Aquaculture has not been considered by government as compared by maize, millet, coffee and the diary sector yet ours involves a lot of technology” laments Rita Amalo of Aquaculture Management Consultants, Ltd. She continues to say that even the bureaucracy stated by the current policies with the concerned authorities like NEMA is too long and rigid.
It is at this point that fish farmers place their plea to the appointing authority to create an independent ministry for fisheries just like their Kenyan counterparts have one in the same post. “It is not easy to get permission from NEMA and National water, the process is too long especially is it is cage fish farming. I think the government should appoint a minister for fisheries maybe that way we can have a clear policy on fish farming” said Paul Ssebinyansi the chairman Walimi Fish Cooperative Society.
This year`s fish farmers` symposium is organized by Walimi Fish Cooperative Society (WAFICOS) under the theme: “Viable Fish farming” with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), putting emphasis on value addition and marketing of farmed fish. It is expected to end on Friday 16th with an exhibition of fish products on the market.