News
Agony of an acid attack
The version of the following article has appeared on The Observer Uganda website observer.ug. To see the article in its original content please click here.
A notice “Strictly No Visitors Allowed” is posted prominently to keep visitors away from serious burns patients. The warning is there to protect patients from harmful bacteria that would cause infection and worsen the wounds.
21 year old Lynette Kirungi is the latest victim of an acid attack. Kirungi is part of the long list of recent victims some of which also include include Pastor Umar Mulinde and UNICEF employee Hanifa Nakiryowa. Dr Robert Ssentongo, head of the Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit at Mulago traces the surge in acid attacks to 1996. He says that whenever there are heightened political activities the unit gets more patients because of political rivalry.
Source of acid
The worst acid to humans is not readily available in Uganda, according to Ssentongo. The available acid is found in school laboratories for student experiments and is also used for charging car batteries and in factories.
Dr Ssentongo did not want to specify the types and names of acid used for security purposes. He explains that during the heightened attacks of the late nineties, an anti-terrorism squad was formed to combat the surge because back then acid attacks were considered a form of terrorism. With the help of the anti-terrorism squad the attacks reportedly went down. But today, because the authorities are concentrating on another type of terrorism like Somalia’s Al Shabab, the acid attacks are on the rise. Besides, most businesses that trade in the deadly substance have no licenses, and there’s no monitoring.
First aid
The first aid to an acid victim is removing all clothing followed plenty of water to the affected parts without scrubbing them. “The problem is that we don’t have enough water sources for immediate first aid,” Ssentongo points out. “In hospital we are continuing with water irrigation to stop the burns from spreading deeper. The more you dilute the acid, the less damage it causes.”
The burns are repaired through continuous surgery making acid burns the most expensive to treat. The healing process, Ssentongo says, depends on which part was affected and how much damage was inflicted. Long term effects include scarring of the skin, eyelids, nostrils, ear canals, mouth which don’t change with age and sometimes patients need whole organ replacements. In addition victims find it hard to reintegrate into their communities, find work or lead happy lives. This lowers their self-esteem and they need counselling, love and care.
The law
Even though acid attacks is a serious human rights abuse, there is no specific law against them in Uganda. The act is taken as a criminal offence and is provided for under the Penal Code Act Cap 120. When the assailants are apprehended they are charged with attempted murder and, if found guilty, they are sentenced to life imprisonment.
Since 1985, the Acid Survivors Foundation Uganda (ASFU) has registered 393 victims and survivors. The association is the only one in Uganda helping survivors and it was founded by Dr Ben Kihingi who used to be a specialist at Mulago’s Burns Unit. Hilda Wanaha, the programmes manager, says women are the biggest victims because of relationships gone sour, land wrangles, business conflicts and revenge.
Samson Obicho, the legal officer at ASFU, says the association helps survivors prosecute the suspects by liaising with police to help in the investigations. It also provides transport to eye-witnesses during court hearings.
The association has registered 15 successful prosecutions but lack of legal support has left hundreds more without justice. ASFU also provides skills training to survivors in income generating activities like crafts making, farming, and poultry. The victims are given loans which they refund when they make profit.
“The acid victims need not to be segregated; they need love, care and support,” says Wanaha.
To read more about amazing work of ASF – Uganda please click here. Alternatively, if you would like to donate please go to Acid Survivors Trust International website and click on How You Can Help link here.
Posted on January 20th 2012 by Office in ASTI news
