By Sophan Niwamanya
apearlnews.com
The Government of Uganda has embarked on a massive cholera vaccination for Congolese asylum seekers in Kisoro district.
Recently, a cholera outbreak was declared in the neighboring Democratic Republic Of Congo (DRC) and with the continuing inflow of refugees in Uganda, authorities felt it important to vaccinate against the disease.
Currently, there are over 17000 Congolese refugees at the Nyakabande transit center in Kisoro district.
Annet Dusabe, the Deputy District Health Officer for Kisoro district says that they received 30,000 doses to vaccinate refugees and host communities.
Dusabe appealed to the locals to report all asylum seekers in their communities in a bid to improve the fight against the disease.
Daniel Kisamo, the settlement Commandant in the Department of Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister says that despite efforts to avail a better life to the refugees, they still face a number of challenges.
The Uganda Red Cross society and other humanitarian organizations are doing all it takes to ensure that the refugees get help in all aspects of life.
However, Kisoro district leaders say that communities that hosted refugees when they arrived in the country were left devastated and needed urgent help.
At the Bunagana border, several refugees are seen entering the country as some return to their homes in DRC. Locals here told our reporter that there are refugees who spend a day in DRC and cross over to Uganda in the evening for safer accommodation.
