101-year-old woman burns self beyond recognition in Nebbi

Residents of Jupangira sub-county in Nebbi District today 1 September, woke up to the rudely awakening news of the burning of an elderly woman in her house at Ubia Village, Pawong Parish.

The victim has been identified as Fulumena Ayabutho aged 101, a resident of Ubia Village.

The old woman was also suffering from a leg injury local leaders told the Whisper Eye News.

The LC1 Chairperson of Ubia Village Pawong Parish Colins Uweki Jakernga said his office got the shocking news at around 8:50 a.m.,  prompting him and colleagues to respond to the scene.

Since she was staying alone in the house, her body got burnt beyond recognition Thank God she survived though in critical condition Jakernga added.

” Upon receiving the news, we rushed there and found the old woman’s house ablaze, she was alone. We understand that she was boiling water and later fire spread to other properties in the house. She was unable to come out. We rescued her though she had been badly burnt. Jakernga told the whisper eye news before adding that 
” We contacted the LCV chairperson who helped us with a car to rush her to the hospital”.

She is currently admitted to Nebbi General Hospital.

Older people are vulnerable to dire health conditions such as hearing loss, disabilities, diabetes, depression and other health challenges. This is made worse by  Limited access to health care for this vulnerable group, especially in developing countries.

In Uganda, the number of older persons increased from 1.1 million in 2002, to 1.3 million in 2010 and by 2050, it’s projected to increase to 5.5 million. Experts argue that with this projected increase in number of the elderly persons, there is need for a serious planning for their future well-being.

Reporting by Mike Rwothomio and Ofoymungu Lee