Karamoja, West Nile and Bukedia still a hub for malaria

18 April 2023, 2:01 pm

By Byamukama Alozious > byamukamaalozious1993@gmail.com

The Ministry of Health has put efforts to cub malaria in Uganda by prioritizing the most regions with high cases and those that are on risk.

Through this effort journalists have been sensitized on how to report on malaria during a National Media Dialoue ahead of World Malaria Day at Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala in order to help the ministry and public by disseminating right information.  Journalists from radio, print, televisions and online briefed on malaria burden.  

According to surveillance data from Ministry of Health and over, 150,000 cases were confirmed for malaria and in ever y 100 people, 40 test positive for malaria, 19 deaths due to malaria were reported at Health facilities

Meanwhile  Uganda contributes 55% of global malaria cases and is in 3 position in Africa after Nigeria and DRC and about 13 people die daily of malaria the majority being children under  5 years, while pregnant women, children between 0-19 still bear a risk

Dr.Catherine Maiteki, Deputy Programs Manager, National Malaria Control Division says at the moment ministry says is putting efforts by spraying in the high risk areas though it’s a challenge in Karamoja because the people in the region live in short houses which make spraying hard, she adds that West Nile and Bukedia regions have more cases and the ministry is putting efforts to sensitize the public on prevention.

Dr. Catherine adds that Government has also applied for support from Gavi to have malaria vaccine in the country.

Dr. Moreen  Atuhire  from case management department of Ministry of health  says malaria is Uganda is largely caused by Plasmodium specie of female anopheles mosquito

The commissioner communicable diseases Dr. Patrick Tusiime says the public should take malaria out of health facilities by taking prevent first and is concerned unless prevention is taken serious the poverty levels will continue to go high because the Government has no enough health facilities to cover 40milion Ugandans

Data  form the ministry shows 65% of Ugandans who get malaria get their first treatment in private facilities which take a lot of money