We are tired of treating preventable diseases-Ministry of Health

19 March 2025, 2:28 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

The Ministry of Health has launched Sanitation Week, an initiative aimed at promoting sanitation and hygiene practices across Uganda. The launch event took place in Katanga, a densely populated slum in Kampala, and was attended by Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Permanent Secretary of Health Dr. Diana Atwine, KCCA officials, and Buganda Kingdom officials.

Dr. Aceng emphasised the importance of hygiene, stating, “The better the hygiene, the fewer the diseases.” She urged communities to support the ministry in promoting sanitation through basic hygiene practices such as handwashing and proper waste disposal.

Dr. Atwine noted that poor sanitation has hindered Uganda’s development, and that preventable diseases like cholera and diarrhoea are often treated in hospitals instead of being prevented through proper sanitation. “We are tired of treating cholera and diarrhoea, which are preventable,” she said.

Sanitation Week was launched in Katanga, one of the 62 slums within the Kampala metropolitan area, with a population of around 20,000 people. The area faces significant challenges, including poor health, inadequate waste management, and poor drainage systems, which contribute to the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea.

Some notable statistics highlighted during the launch include the fact that 16% of people in Uganda defecate in the open, contributing to poor sanitation. Kampala has only 120 community toilets, despite a demand from 5 million people during the day and 2 million at night. The 120 zones in Kawempe Division, which have a population of 450,000, are in need of a hospital.

Mayor of Kawempe, Dr. Emmanuel Sserunjoji, highlighted the struggles faced by Katanga residents, including a water crisis and a poor drainage system. He requested the minister to address these issues and emphasised the need for a hospital in the area.