Betty Byobona lives at the Lubenge landing site in Kityelera Sub-County in Mayuge district. Her 4-year-old child is suffering from Bilharzia. The child has a swollen abdomen which is one of the major signs of the waterborne disease. Byobona said the child started developing symptoms last year after taking water drawn from Lake Victoria. Byobona said that despite getting treatment from Kityelera Health Center III, the child was not getting better. “I took him to Kigandaalo Health Center, he was given some tablets but nothing changed. I bought some drugs from the clinic but they haven’t helped.” Said, Betty Byobona – Mother with a child suffering from Bilharzia.

District authorities said they still faced a challenge of getting Bilharzia treatment for children below the age of five. “The disease has also attacked children below five years those that you saw with extended stomachs. Now, the unfortunate bit is that the World Health Organization has not yet come up with a dosage for that age.” Umar Bongo the Mayuge district LC V Chairperson said the unhygienic conditions around the lake shores could be the cause of the disease. “Findings indicate that we have not taken the issue of hygiene at these landing sites seriously. You find some parents have not taken it upon themselves to try and pass the message to their children.” Said, Umar Bongo – Chairperson LC 5, Mayuge. Most of Mayuge district is covered by water bodies and although this gives residents water, it has also been a major cause of waterborne diseases.