Pader has 1,329 nodding syndrome patients, MP Ottober Wellborn cries out over lack of drugs, food.
BY OKIDI PATRICK OCAMOYITDYEL
PADER, UGANDA — Aruu North County MP, Hon Ottober Wellborn Odiya, has raised concern on the floor of parliament on Wednesday November, 11, 2026, over the dire situation of nodding syndrome patients in Pader District, saying the district has 1,329 patients who are struggling without drugs and food support.
Hon Wellborn Odiya said Pader has 12 health facilities that provide care to the patients, but most of them lack essential drugs needed to manage the condition.
He said the situation has been worsened by failure to supply food items to the victims, which is critical in boosting their immunity.
“It has taken more than two years now without the nodding syndrome victims being supplied with food items, and the drugs are also lacking in the health facilities,” Odiya said.
He explained that many of the patients come from vulnerable families that cannot afford regular meals or medicine, leaving them exposed to worsening health conditions and frequent seizures.
MP Ottober said without urgent support, many patients risk deterioration, while caregivers continue to face overwhelming hardship.
Odiya appealed to the government, through the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Prime Minister, to urgently intervene by restocking the health facilities with drugs and resuming the supply of food items to the victims.
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