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The creation of social institutions to support these interventions was also undertaken by NGOs, through the
formation and training of new VHTs (ASB, FHU) and school sanitation and health clubs (ACORD), as well as
involving existing local structures such as sub-county Health Assistants and Inspectors, VHTs, hygiene and water
and sanitation committees, community health clubs and District health inspectors. ASB, for example, with support
from the Technical Support Unit and the District Department of Environmental Health, facilitated a training of Sub
County officials and 644 village health teams (VHTs) in PHAST/CHAST methodology in order for them to be able to
carry out hygiene and sanitation sensitization and promotion at villages and schools; while CARITAS held meetings
with School Administrators, SMCs and PTAs, as well as training 65 primary teachers in PHAST methodologies.
Community management:
The sustainability of emergency WASH intervention was addressed by the creation and support of community
management institutions:
- ACORD undertook the activation of water source committees in Awach Sub County and provision of further
training in general management of HEV, as well as generation of a Management Information System by
equipping members with counter books for recording issues pertaining to their water sources and for
noting training information; refresher training was also provided for hand-pump mechanics on repair and
maintenance of existing water sources;
- ASB supported the revitalisation of water and sanitation user committees, focusing on improving the
collection of user fees for O&M of water sources;
- CARITAS Gulu trained 182 WUCs, leading to improved management and hygienic use of water sources, and
conducted sensitisation meetings to discuss the role of local leaders in WASH behaviour, project
implementation and disease prevention. Continued consultation with local leaders and Headmasters and
teachers in the primary schools enabled forming realistic implementation strategies as well as the
appropriate health messages to communicate through the drama shows; and
- FHU formed and revitalised 35 WUCs in Namokora, Padibe East and West and Mucwini sub-counties.
Status of the HEV epidemic:
As specified in Table 4.4.2 below, the spread of HEV from Kitgum into neighbouring districts has been kept at bay
to a large extent 3 , while Kitgum continues being the worst affected District. In the first week of August 2009, 17
new cases of HEV were reported in Kitgum District, down from 22 cases the previous week. In Pader, 3 cases were
reported, down from 4 cases the previous week; and in Gulu, one case was reported, as in the previous 3 weeks.
Table 4.4.2: Status of the Hepatitis E Virus epidemic in Northern Uganda, as of 8 th August 2009.
District New cases New deaths Cumulative cases Cumulative deaths
Kitgum 17 0 10,376 165 (1.59%)
Gulu & Amuru 1 0 44 (9 positive) 0
Pader 3 0 222 8 (3.6%)
Lango 0 0 3 0
TOTAL 21 0 10,645 173 (1.62%)
For reasons of scientific accuracy and validity, it is not within the scope of this Report to make a direct quantitative
link between the specific interventions detailed above and the low rates of disease spread; nevertheless, it is
indisputable that the aforementioned interventions by NGOs have contributed significantly to the reduction of the
risk of HEV.
3 World Health Organisation: Emergency and Humanitarian Action, Uganda, weekly activity report Week 32: 2-8 August 2009.
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