Scrap Taxes on Oxybutynin Patients Urges Government
By Damba Rogers
People living with spine bifida and hydrocephalus are urging government to consider scrapping taxes on Oxybutynin one of the drugs used in their treatment chain. Oxybutynin is used by people living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus to clean their bladders and protect them from any likelihood of contracting bacterial infections.
Speaking on a telephone interview with Ephrance Naddongo aged 23 a resident of Zana, she reveals that since government scrapped taxes off HIV drugs, its high time it scraps taxes off drugs that treat spina bifida and hydrocephalus to help them easily access treatment.
With the 42 days lockdown, Naddongo and James Kadu narrate the hardships they find to access hospitals for treatment which has worsened their health conditions with some of their friends losing their lives and others developing very bad health conditions.
On a related development, people living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus are demanding for increased health services in all public health facilities as this will make access for treatment very easy.
Still, James notes that their parents are finding it hard to always buy them pumpers during these times since most of them are home and not working.
He states that one pamper for an adult or a grown up like him costs UGX.4000. Adding that he uses a minimum of three pamper on a daily which is quite expensive for his parents.
Now that he has completed primary seven, he is scared of whether he will be able to freely get any admission for senior one and enjoy his school time there due to his health condition.
Currently they are receiving support from SHINE Uganda, Mukisa foundation among other donors.
END
