BRIEF ON THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH ACTIVITIES IN BUDUDA DISTRICT FOLLOWING THE MUDSLIDE

This accident occurred in the evening of 1st March, 2010 after a long down pour which started at 4:00 pm. At Bukalasi Sub-county in Nametsi parish, the whole village including Nametsi Health Centre III were washed away by the mudslide and a number of people were buried down.

A team of 8 medical personnel was immediately dispatched from Kampala to Bududa District on 2nd March, 2010. This team was mainly for case management and consisted of the following officers:-

•    Assistant Commissioner, Curative Services
•    Consultant Surgeon
•    Orthopaedic Surgeon
•    Anaesthesiologist
•    Epidemiologist
•    2 Nursing Officers
•    Orthopaedic Officer

They travelled in two vehicles, an ambulance and a pick-up carrying emergency medical supplies received fro UNICEF. The team visited the accident site to access emergency needs of the victims but the kit could not reach there due to lack of transport means.

The team was stationed at Bududa Hospital were they treated the victims who were evacuated from the site of the Mudslide. There were 16 patients admitted in the hospital who had presented with fractures, chest injuries, concussions, contusions and soft tissue injuries. The patients were examined and treated. Those with fractures requiring X-rays were done.

Discussions were held with the District Health Officer of Bududa District and the Medical Superintendent of Bududa Hospital. A list of medicines and health supplies was then made. Priority medicines included anti-malarial, anti-diarrhoeal and antibiotics for pneumonia. This was then sent to National Medical Stores (NMS) with instruction for items to be delivered to Bududa District.

The second team from the Ministry of Health reached Bududa district on 6th March, 2010 and consisted of clinicians, public health specialists, epidemiologists and health educators.

The medicines and health supplies requested for from the NMS was delivered to Bududa Hospital on 10th March, 2010. It contained most of the medicines required although in small quantities (The List of the anti-malarial is attached).

Another list of requirement has been made to supply medicines and health supplies to the health centres near the camps. These health centres are:-

•    Bukalasi HC III
•    Bukigai HC III

The press report that there was dysentery outbreak in Bukalasi area was not true. However, the Ministry of Health hosted a number of radio talk shows and distributed IEC materials on cholera and expect to facilitate a drama show at the camp to sensitise the people on HIV/AIDS and hygiene.