Six years down the lane, the cause and cure of the nodding syndrome is still a mystery despite the different research theories that have been published. Most of which link the disease to river blindness epilepsy. Prof. Kitara David Kagoro from Gulu University who has been researching about this disease for the last 12 years disagrees from most publications especially those linking the syndrome to epilepsy and river blindness. Or rather relates it to the absence of specific enzymes in the body which are necessary for crop production. “Acetyl carnitine and also Bioteenages these two are important in the metabolism in the production of energy. So right now we are pursuing this as a probable metabolic disorder.” Said, Prof. Kitara David Kagoro – Researcher Gulu University.
He further explains why the presence of local food, cold water, cold weather, starvation and vigorous exercises stimulate nodding. “And when you look at this thing carefully you realize that these are activities which involve energy production and when you look at it carefully there must be a problem with energy production and these also link to the deficiencies we talk about in the crop cycle. When you look at the crop cycle and you look at the mitochondrion, you look at the membrane of the mitochondrion it has areas where we have compresses.” Kitara now says research should now focus on finding out why the disease is clustered in relation to time, space, age and geographical location. “Given internal displacement, in space geographically located on either side of the two major rivers of Achwa and Page. And they are very discreet areas they are not just going along the river. And in person, the onset is mainly between the ages of 5 to 15, so when you look at for those who have studied eccrinology it’s called the nocks description of eccrinology.”
A researcher from Belgium who is in Uganda to investigate the physiology behind the nodding syndrome still believes that nodding syndrome is caused by a worm same that causes river blindness. “Well, anti-epilepsy treatment might help patients feel better because nodding syndrome is actually a form of epilepsy where during the nodding the patients have shivers so if you can stop them from having these shivers they might be able to eat.” Said, Anne Ortiobiks – Researcher Belgium. “For those who have studied eccrinology, it’s called the nocks description of eccrinology where you have whichever condition which is willing endemic in an area. It is very unlikely that an endemic condition can create a disease which is clustered especially those which have spatial temporality. So we welcome these new findings but we think there must be something else which is additional.”
According to a report by the World Health Organization, the prevalence of both epilepsy in the areas affected by nodding syndrome is high. With these contradictory findings, Prof. Kitara now calls upon the government to shift focus towards finding means of improving lives of these patients. “We now think that the use of grass root structures the LC I and other systems they can work around to support these children. You train them to make sure that they can every time work on the feeding, the medications.” “If we address the financial sustainabilities of the families of which as an organization we hope we are going to achieve it by ensuring that we bring together these families that are affected. They do communal work as a group with people sharing the same challenges.” Dr. Twinamatsiko Andrew – Community Access Officer – FABS. In Southern Sudan and Northern Uganda, affected populations have a history of internal displacement and living in internally displaced people’s camps according to a report by the World Health Organization.
