Parliament has directed the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Aceng to present a statement on measures taken to eradicate malaria and ensure that the 2030 target is met.
The Namutumba District Health Officer, James Kiirya says that they extracted 56 samples from children in the sub-counties of Mazuba and Bulange respectively, which had reported the highest number of fatal cases, but all of them tested positive for severe malaria.
Dr. Byamugisha told URN in an exclusive interview that prior to the renovation of the hospital, the delivery of health services had become difficult and expensive to manage.
All this has improved, despite the insatiable demands at the Hospital. Following months of renovation work, Dr. Josaphat K. Byamugisha, the Director of the newly transformed Makerere Health Services says he breathes with a sigh of relief.
Dr. Sam Uringtho, the Director of Gulu Regional Blood Bank told URN in an interview that they are raising little blood because of the low turn up of blood donors. According to Uringtho, majority of their donors are secondary school students but because of high demand for blood, what they donate is not enough.
The certification by the World Health Organisation is granted when a country proves beyond a reasonable doubt, that it has interrupted the chain of indigenous transmission of the disease for at least 3 consecutive years. Records indicate that Algeria last reported its last case of indigenous malaria in 2013.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health spokesperson, notes that findings from the CDC laboratories indicate that the samples tested negative to homorganic fevers with three testing positive for Plasmodium falciparum, a germ known for causing malaria.
President Yoweri Museveni this afternoon confirmed that government will provide 350 billion Shillings for spraying houses across the country to fight Malaria.
The money according to the statement will support the intervention areas of entomological monitoring and insecticide resistance management. The funds are to be used to further promote proven interventions such as Indoor Residual Spraying and of Insecticide Treated Nets ITNS
The nets are one of the new approaches to meet the growing mosquito resistance to existing insecticides, particularly pyrethroids that are used to treat nets.
The nets were given out as part of a drive to distribute up to 24 million mosquito nets countrywide in a bid to reduce malaria prevalence in the country. The preventable disease is the leading cause of death among Ugandans accounting for over 27 percent of lives lost annually, according to 2016 statistics by Malaria Control Programme.
In Uganda, the prevalence of Malaria drastically reduced from 42 percent in 2009 to 19 percent in 2015 thanks to Insecticide residual spraying and persistent use of insecticide treated nets. The figures are based on the Uganda Malaria indicator survey 2015. The country loses an estimated 100,000 people to Malaria every year.
Immaculate Omugisha, an HIV advocate with Uganda Network on Law, Ethics and HIV- UGANET says HIV/AIDS was not prioritized. She says in order to have a meaningful campaign on the scourge; government should have provided specific funding for testing and treating all those found positive.
Moses Oguti, the Regional Technical Officer Communication for Healthy Communities, says through the platform religious leaders are encouraged to include malaria prevention tips in their sermons. At least 600 people succumbed to Malaria in Northern Uganda last year. More than one million cases were recorded in the region from July to December.
Dr. Godfrey Magumba, the Executive director for Malaria Consortium, says the failure to adhere to the guidelines has increased cases of severe malaria leading to deaths and forms of disability especially in children such as epilepsy.
The prevalence of Malaria had drastically reduced in Uganda from 42 in 2009 to 19 percent in 2015 with Insecticide residual spraying and long-lasting insecticide treated nets credited as the major intervention strategies that reversed malaria transmission. This was based on the Uganda Malaria indicator survey released last year.
The Health Ministry spokesperson, Rukia Nakamatte, says the ministry has also delivered medicines including the second line anti-malaria drugs for severe cases in an attempt to ensure effective treatment.
