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EBOLA CAN NOT BE TREATED BY TRADITIONAL HEALERS, STOP YOUR ACTIVITIES FOR NOW-PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI
By Goodluck Musinguzi
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has asked traditional healers to stop their activities in Mubende and Kassanda districts to avoid hoodwinking the public. A suspected case of Ebola may present with a sudden onset of fever, fatigue, chest pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, unexplained bleeding and yellowing of the eyes. Any further delay with traditional healers or religious prayers will put the person’s life in danger and others.
Therefore, “The witch doctors, traditional healers and herbalists should not accept sick people in your shrines or places of treatment. Advise them to call health workers for safe transfer to hospitals,”
“Religious leaders should not accept sick people with symptoms of Ebola who come seeking for healing prayers because when you touch them, you will contract Ebola,” he added.
Unexplained deaths
Since the beginning of the Month, the District Rapid Response team in Mubende has been investigating suspicious cases of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever following reports of six strange illnesses and deaths in Kiruma and Madudu sub-counties.
These were three adults and three children who died between September 1 and September 15, 2022.
An angry President Museveni explained to the nation how one family spread Ebola in a bid to seek for healing from traditional healers. We want to close these loopholes that would lead to the spread of the Ebola virus in the country if they aren’t dealt with.
Please seek medical assistance if you think you have come in contact with an infected person to get proper help.
The late, Twagirayesu Ndahiro, who died of Ebola disease never followed the advice of medical doctors.
President Museveni said, “Ndahiro had contact with an Ebola patient and was supposed to be under quarantine, but he violated all health protocols leading to the spread of the virus”.
Ndahiro died at Kiruddu Hospital in Kampala City where he was admitted after escaping from Mubende District to Luweero District to seek treatment from a traditional healer.
“Stop seeking treatment for Ebola from traditional healers. Those who are in hiding should come out immediately and report to health workers for proper follow-up. Suspected cases should cooperate with health workers. If you’re infected, it doesn’t matter where you run to,” the President said
The Ebola was confirmed by the government in September in Mubende District. It was announced by Dr Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary Minister of Health on the 20th. At least 54 people have contracted the Ebola virus and of these 19 have succumbed to the disease.
President Museveni said 10 of the 19 deceased people are members of Ndahiro’s extended family.
He said Ndahiro’s family at one time seized the body of their relative, who died of Ebola, from officials. The body was subjected to traditional rituals before it was buried, which led to the spread of the virus.
Ndahiro later took his brother, who had contracted the Ebola virus, to the hospital. He died during a surgical operation. Several health workers, who treated him, also contracted the virus. Two medical officers have since succumbed to the virus.
The President said health workers told Ndahiro and his family to self-quarantine, but he decided to travel to Luweero District to seek treatment from a traditional healer.
This must stop, President Museveni said.
