Related Articles
By Kasline Gladys Lakareber
During this Year’s Mama Irene Gelson Foundation (IGF) memorial charity walk held on the 23rd July 2022 which focused on supporting nodding disease victims in Kitgum and Lawmo, the committee aimed to support 1000 afflicted families with the theme, “walking to support 1000 nodding families”.
Nodding syndrome is an unexplained neurologic condition characterized by episodes of repetitive dropping forward of the head, often accompanied by other seizure-like activity, such as convulsions or staring spells.
In Labongo Amida Sub county, Kitgum district, 8 different foods items were distributed to 409 households at Okidi primary school, Okidi central on the 27th August 2022.
Josephine Aloyo a beneficiary who has one child suffering from nodding syndrome applauded IGF for
supporting them during this economic crisis. She revealed that the major challenge for nodding children is food because they eat a lot and the caretakers don’t have enough time to do garden work hence food insecurity is
their major issues.
Dorine Lakot a mother of nodding disease victims explained how she suffers with nodding girls during their
menstruation which shames them in community.
Lakot who mothers 4 affected girls said during their menstruation the girls cannot clean themselves and
it is always left to her to make them clean, something she says makes her feel like abandoning the girls and leaving home.
She appealed to other stakeholders and NGOs to help them distribute sanitary pads to help the teenage girls affected by the disease.
Bosco Oketayot the area councilor 5 Labongo Akwang sub county who represented Chairperson local council 5 during food distribution appreciated the management of IGF and urged beneficiaries not to sell the food items given.
He as well cautioned them to value and use what has been given appropriately since economic crisis is hitting the whole country and to embark in Agriculture although the climate change is unpredictable.
Meanwhile Pastor Alfred Komagum who headed team for food distribution confirmed the food items was received by the right beneficiaries and he was very happy to share what community sacrificed to nodding victims.
He added that Labongo Amida is the first to receive food since it’s the hotspot sub county with the highest number of numbers victims (507) while assuring the public that they will reach all the sub counties remaining (Labongo Akwang and Kitgum matidi) including Lamwo as well.
Each household received Rice 3kilograms, Posho 25kilograms, Beans 10kilograms, sugar 2 kilograms, salt 2 packets, Biscuits 20 packets, soda 3 bottles and one bar of soap.
