Poisoning cases are on the rise in Uganda a report by the ministry of internal affairs got from Government Analytical Laboratory revealed.
The statistics indicate that 11.4 death out of 100,000 people die as a result of poisoning cause annually and it’s more rampant in rural areas.
The common causes are, Agro- chemicals such as fertilizers accounts for over 42.4% of the annual total death, house hold chemicals like cleaning materials 22.1%, while carbon-monoxide resulting in suffocating make 20% , snake bite 14.1% and food poisoning only 1.4%.
Deliberate poisoning of the total accounts for 64.8% of the total death and it mostly occurs in the age groups of 12-18 and 20-30 years. This is more pronounced in urban areas accounting for 28.8%.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Simon Peter Mundeyi, lack of information on how to handle chemicals, poor collaboration among people handling chemicals coupled with inadequate protective measures and cleaning services are have cause the alarming situation.
He also said that limited knowledge on the different types of poisons and exposure plus lack of proper cleaning devices also leads to poisoning in homes and work places.
The Internal Affairs mouth piece also said that a total of 967 cases on poisoning are reported mostly in urban areas while there are many suspected cases allegedly that pass unrecorded especially in villages. There are also poisoning cases that result outside the country and are reported by travellers after coming back her they go to Government Analytical Lab for test after suspecting poisoning.
Chemicals like paraffin, petrol, even medicines of any time are also a source of poisoning and should be handles with great care and kept out of reach by children as a preventive measure.
Mundeyi although he didn’t give figures, revealed that the most affected regions in Uganda are, Eastern mostly in the districts of Palisa, Budaka, Kibuku, Mbale, Serere and Kumi. The Northern comes second specifically in Gulu, Norya and Kole district while in Western poisoning mostly occurs in Isingiro District and it’s not so common in the Central Region but greater Masaka ranks high while Kampala is the least affected by the phenomenon.
Perfumes and nail painting especially among women and wall painting of buildings are also a causing of poisoning when inherited.
Angela Bonabaana 72, a resident of Kyamanyori Village- Bukomero Sub-county in Kiboga district informed one of the relatives that she was poisoned by her sister who also resides in the same sub-county but in a different parish for allegedly hesitating to a portion the Kibanja that they bought together.
The relative of Bonnabaana who intimated to the reported earlier before the revealing of poison report by the Internal Affairs spokesperson, said that her relative was given poison in smoked fish which was cooked and served by the suspect to the victim. As the victim was on that very day travelling to another sub-country of the same district for burial she started vomiting and vomited for a while and the story teller believes that her relative was saved by the mercy of God.
The immediate measures that can be taken to avoid effects of poisoning include among;
Musa Wakabi Kasone a scientist working in Wandeya government laboratory says that Activated charcoal sold in pharmacies and in the absence of a nearby pharmacy, one can use the ordinary charcoal used for cooking and this should be pounded to make powder which is mixed with hot water then given to the victim to sip and samples of Vomit or urine can also be taken to the lab for testing such that the victim can be managed well after ascertaining the type of poison.
He also said that the symptoms of suspected poisoning are shivering like that associated with malaria, excessive silver loss, vomiting uncontrolled headache, excessive abdominal pain,rampant diarrhoea, body muscle weakness leading to failure to support standing , loss of sight and uncontrolled sweating.