The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, told the Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua to organize a meeting with various groups to talk about nodding syndrome.
Tayebwa says they need to do this within one month and report back to Parliament. The Chief Whip will meet with officials from the Ministry of Health, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Acholi Parliamentary Group, and leaders from the affected areas.
The decision came after lawmakers asked for rehabilitation centers in Northern Uganda to help children with nodding syndrome. These centers were closed because they didn’t have enough money from the government or donors.
Lawmakers mentioned that the Ministry of Health was supposed to take over these centers but hasn’t done it yet. Others stated that since 2018, there hasn’t been enough money from the government to support these centers.
During a Parliament meeting, lawmakers agreed that if there’s not enough money to run standalone rehabilitation centers, they should include these services in existing health centers and make sure there’s enough money to pay for them.
They also asked the Ministry of Health for updates on their research into nodding syndrome and how they’re helping children who have it.
The State Minister for Health (Primary Healthcare), Hon. Margaret Muhanga, said that they’ve been trying to help, but there’s not enough money. She said they’ve treated over 2,200 children but need more help to do more.