Museveni fulfills pledge to Nodding disease patients 8 years later

While addressing the Girl's SACCO Annual General Meeting in Pader on May 11, 2014, Museveni pledged to support households with NS patients with oxen and ox-ploughs.

Two years after the pledge, the families received the ox-ploughs during the 2016 election period.

Last week, the State House Comptroller Jane Barekye, delivered the 208 oxen to beneficiaries during a ceremony at Awere Health Centre III in Awere Sub-county.

Speaking at the handover, she said that now households can commence ox-ploughing to improve their standards of living.

“It’s not a simple task. I am told that parents and patients face stigma due to the disease. But now use the oxen and ploughs well so that they earn a living as advised by the President,” she stated.

Barekye commended residents for being patient and gave the District leaders a directive to offer psychosocial support and care for affected families.

According to the Pader chief administrative officer Robert Adebuason, a total of 1,548 households have one or more Nodding Syndrome patients. He said that lack of proper health facility to treat severe cases is of great concern.

Paska Aciro Menya, the District Woman Member of Parliament asked Barekye to influence a fast upgrade of Awere Health Centre III for better service delivery.

Raymond Oroma, the chairperson of Lukwor Ojuu Village, Lagile Parish, Awere Sub-county, said limited funding has made efforts towards treatment and care for patients difficulty.

"These children have not been doing well recently, better measures are still lacking in response to their situation," Oroma said.