the drinking cup into the storage container in order to avoid water contamination. • Always use the latrine. Dispose of children’s faeces into the latrine. • Eat food when still hot. • Food eaten raw such as fruits and vegetables should be properly washed and where possible peeled before eating. • Cover all foods and drinks to avoid cockroaches. • In case a person dies from Cholera, report immediately to the nearest health worker. • Communal eating during burials should be avoided. • Kill the Cholera germs by sprinkling germ-killing solutions such as Jik or Dettol on stool or vomit and all other clothes/materials used by a person suffering from Cholera. What is your role as an individual and community leader in preventing and controlling Cholera? • Ensure that every home has uses and maintains a clean latrine. • Ensure that all household waste is thrown into a rubbish pit and covered. • Mobilise, supervise, educate and For more information, contact your nearest health facility THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA MINISTRY OF HEALTH CHOLERA Key points to remember • Everyone is at risk. • Cholera is a serious disease but can be prevented. • Washing hands with soap and water before preparing, serving and eating food and after using the latrine kills the germs and prevents the spread of Cholera. • Boiling or chlorinating drinking water kills Cholera germs and prevents the spread of Cholera. • Use and maintain a clean latrine. What you need to know and do advise the community on sanitation promotion and good hygiene practices. • Ensure that all foodstuffs sold in markets or restaurants are properly handled and covered. • Help the sick to seek medical care. • Set a good example in your home and community as a whole.
Transcript
the drinking cup into the storage container in order to avoid water contamination.
• Always use the latrine. Dispose of children’s faeces into the latrine.
• Eat food when still hot.
• Food eaten raw such as fruits and vegetables should be properly washed and where possible peeled before eating.
• Cover all foods and drinks to avoid
cockroaches.
• In case a person dies from Cholera, report immediately to the nearest health worker.
• Communal eating during burials should be avoided.
• Kill the Cholera germs by sprinkling germ-killing solutions such as Jik or Dettol on stool or vomit and all other clothes/materials used by a person suffering from Cholera.
What is your role as an individual and community leader in preventing and controlling Cholera?• Ensure that every home has uses
and maintains a clean latrine.
• Ensure that all household waste is thrown into a rubbish pit and covered.
• Mobilise, supervise, educate and
For more information, contact
your nearest health facility
THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
CHOLERAKey points to remember • Everyone is at risk.
• Cholera is a serious disease but can be prevented.
• Washing hands with soap and water before preparing, serving and eating food and after using the latrine kills the germs and prevents the spread of Cholera.
• Boiling or chlorinating drinking water kills Cholera germs and prevents the spread of Cholera.
• Use and maintain a clean latrine.
What you need to know and do
advise the community on sanitation promotion and good hygiene practices.
• Ensure that all foodstuffs sold in markets or restaurants are properly handled and covered.
• Help the sick to seek medical care.
• Set a good example in your home and community as a whole.
IntroductionCholera is an acute illness that results in excessive watery diarrhoea. It is a dangerous disease that can lead to death shortly after infection. Cholera is preventable and yet has continued to affect many people in Uganda.
The disease is mostly common during the rainy seasons and in communities with poor sanitation and hygiene.
What is cholera?Cholera is a dangerous disease caused by germs. It causes sudden and continuous passing of watery stool and sometimes vomiting. This leads to rapid loss of water and salts from the body making the person generally weak. Cholera can lead to death within 3 to 4 hours if a person is not treated quickly.
How is Cholera spread?The Cholera germ is spread through faeces or vomit of someone suffering from Cholera. A person gets Cholera from drinking water, juices and other fluids or eating food which are contaminated with Cholera germs.
Cholera can also be spread through:• Drinking untreated or unboiled
water from rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and unprotected springs.
• Eating cold food, which is exposed to dust, flies and cockroaches.
• Not washing hands with soap and water after using the latrine or cleaning a baby’s bottom.
• Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables.
• Serving food and drinks in dirty containers.
• Keeping drinking water in dirty containers.
• Poor disposal of faeces.
• Open rubbish in compounds which attracts flies and cockroaches.
What are the signs and symptoms of Cholera?A person suffering from Cholera develops the following:
• Frequent passing of excessive amounts of watery stool.
• Vomiting.
• General body weakness due to excessive loss of water.
• Feeling thirsty and stops urinating due to reduced body fluids.
How can one manage a person suffering from Cholera?
• When a person develops signs and symptoms, immediately start
giving him or her Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) or other fluids at home.
• Dispose of faeces including children’s into a latrine.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Clean all soiled items with plenty of water, soap and Jik.
• Take a person suffering from Cholera for treatment to the health facility as soon as possible and (while on the way to the health facility) continue giving fluids (ORS). Remember, any delay can lead to death.
How can Cholera be prevented?• Always wash hands with soap and
water before preparing, serving or eating food.
• Always wash hands with soap and water after using the latrine or cleaning a baby’s bottom.
• Always boil all drinking water or treat it with chlorine. Store it in a clean container (e.g jerrycan) with a cover.
• Always pour water from the storage container for drinking. Never dip
