Kiryandongo, Kikuube grapple with high malnutrition levels
Dr. Olaro urged local authorities and stakeholders to sustain the screening exercise to ensure its success.
Kiryandongo: Kiryandongo and Kikuube districts have emerged as the leading areas with high levels of malnutrition, exceeding the global threshold of 6%.
This was revealed by Dr. Bwaga Ibrahim, the Acting Director of Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, during the launch of a nationwide mass malnutrition screening campaign held at the Kiryandongo District Headquarters on Friday.
The event attracted leaders from 13 refugee-hosting districts across the country. Dr. Bwaga noted that both Kiryandongo and Kikuube were declared food insecure in 2025, a situation he said has significantly contributed to rising cases of malnutrition. He welcomed the screening initiative, expressing optimism that it will help reduce the burden of malnutrition in the affected areas.
Speaking at the same function, Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, who represented the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, emphasized that children suffering from malnutrition are at a higher risk of disease and death.
Dr. Olaro explained that the ongoing mass screening campaign will help identify malnutrition cases early, facilitate proper management, and ensure referral of severe cases for specialized care.
He added that the government has implemented several interventions to address malnutrition. These include the establishment of a refugee and malnutrition control coordination mechanism and secretariat at the Ministry of Health, as well as the integration of nutrition services into routine healthcare at health facilities and reception centers.
Dr. Olaro urged local authorities and stakeholders to sustain the screening exercise to ensure its success.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Akweteireho, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Kiryandongo called on stakeholders to intensify community sensitization on the dangers of malnutrition.
He expressed concern that in the Bunyoro sub-region, large portions of land are increasingly being devoted to sugarcane growing, which he said is contributing to food insecurity.
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