KAMPALA- The government analytical laboratory in Wandegeya has recorded 967 poisonous cases in 3,868 samples that have so far been analyzed in the nine months.
Addressing Journalists at Naguru Police Headquarters, Simon Mundeyi, spokesperson of Internal Affairs, said there’s been a concerning number of poisoning cases from January to September 2024, which needs the continued public awareness and education on poisoning prevention and management.
Eastern Uganda’s districts of Pallisa, Budaka, Kibuku, and Mbale have reported the highest number of fatal poisoning cases, according to investigations by the Government Analytical Laboratory.
This region is followed by Northern Uganda, Western Uganda, and Central Uganda’s Greater Masaka region, which have also seen significant numbers of poisoning cases.
According to statistics, poison was reported to have been used in the most cases of suicide with 63% in urban areas compared to 25.6% in rural areas, while snake bites recorded 14.1% cases of fatalities.
The most common household poisons are quite alarming. According to a report, medicines for people, animal’s supplements, and remedies are among the top danger culprits.
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Mundeyi said that lack of information on chemical and poison handling poison are main factors contributing to poisoning.
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The Ministry of Internal Affairs hopes that with more equipping of the Government Analytical Laboratory (DGAL), it will play a pivotal role in combating poisoning.
Mundeyi said that DGAL’s toxicology division conducts critical medico-legal investigations and provides expert guidance on diagnosing and treating poisoning cases.
