NMS brings hope to children affected by nodding disease

The National Medical Stores (NMS), the Joint Medical Stores (JMS) and Doctors Choice, a non-governmental organisation, have launched a medicinal supplement with 92 nutrients from locally grown Moringa for the management of the Nodding Disease.
The Director, Doctors Choice, Dr Ismail Senoga said they partnered with Joint Medical Stores in 2017 to manufacture the high quality drug that would improve the nutrition of children with the Nodding Disease Syndrome.
"The Nodding Disease Syndrome is a micro-nutrition deficiency and this drug will help address this; it will improve immune system stimulation,” Senoga said, adding that “It is easy to swallow one capsule a day and easy to digest because it contains vegetables."
The Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, attended the launch of the nutrition supplement at Odeke Nodding Disease Centre in Omoro district on Thursday, 08 November 2018.
Dr. Moses Kamabare, Director NMS said they would continue providing conventional medication as well to northern Uganda.
"The new addition that is being introduced to the children today will make a great difference in the people who are suffering with the Nodding Disease Syndrome. This is both a supplement and a medicine that has some nutrients that the children have been missing. We should be able to see a change in these children soon," he added.
The Deputy Speaker applauded the efforts by government and the two medical teams for their support to children in northern Uganda.
"We have moved away from denial but we have accepted this plight. We are thankful to government that gave us shs170m for this cause; the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Health. I would like to appreciate NMS for working so hard together with the team from Doctors Choice who have come up with a supplementary drug that can heal this disease," he said.
Oulanyah also handed over mattresses and blankets to families with children afflicted by the nodding disease.
The nodding disease centre in Omoro currently has 25 in-patients and 187 patients in the community who are monitored by the medical teams.