Kampala, Uganda – The Uganda Government Analytical Laboratory in Wandegeya has released its 2022/2023 Annual Poisoning Report, revealing an alarming surge in poisoning cases across the country.
Eastern Uganda tops the list of the fatality cases, followed by Northern Uganda, Western and Central Uganda especially the greater Masaka region.
According to the report presented to the media today by the spokesperson of Internal Affairs Ministry Simon Peter Mundeyi, Pallisa District tops the list of the cases, followed closely by Budaka, Kibuku, Mbale, Serere, Kumi, Ngora, Gulu, Kole, Isingiro, Masaka, while Kampala emerging with the least number of fatalities.
The statistics also indicated that agricultural chemicals were the leading cause of poisoning, accounting for a staggering 42.4% of the annual cases recorded across the country. “There are forexample boosters, fertilizers and other chemicals that are used in agriculture. Some of the victims are either poisoned by other people or by themselves.” Mundeyi stated
“63.3%of the poisoning cases are due to deliberate self-poisoning where some due to their different problems take poison. Children below 12 years, teenagers and young adults of over 30 years accounted for a bigger percentage of the fatalities.” He further highlighted
The Statistics highlighted that stress, extramarital affairs, use of supplements and remedies which include misuse of paracetamol and other painkillers were the leading cause of self-poisoning among the fatalities registered.
Mundeyi says, poisoning contributes to approximately 11.4 deaths of the 100,000 people that die annually across the country, adding “this issue affects mainly rural areas where there is poor healthcare with inadequate emergency services.”
Household chemicals forexample cleaning materials that includes jik contributed to 22.1% of the fatalities, carbonmonoxide which comes as a result of suffocation from fires contributed to 20%, poisoning from snake bites contributed to 14.1% whereas food poisoning accounted for 1.4% .
The Uganda Government Analytical Laboratory’s findings underscore the need for increased awareness and regulation of chemical use in agriculture.
Mundeyi urged parents to keep the poisonous chemicals in their respective or labelled bottles to avoid being mistaken by the children or any other visitors, who might forexample find them in mineral water bottles thinking it’s drinking water.
Incase of any suspected signs and symptoms of poisoning, victims have been advised to call on the mobile phone number toll 0752438587 for required assistance from the experts.
“You will be Immediately assisted. The person holding this phone doesn’t go to sleep. Works with directorate of government analytical laboratory and he’s paid to prevent poisoning by advising victims on various steps.” He said
The directorate received 967 cases of poisoning between January and September 2024, whereas a total of 3,868 other samples of poison cases were analysed from other various groups of people or institutions for the year ending 2023. In total over 5,000 poison cases were handled.
