Acholi Leaders Advocate for Malaria Clubs in Schools

Leaders from the Acholi sub-region have called for the formation of malaria clubs in schools to help advocate for the elimination of malaria in Uganda. 

Santa Okot, the Aruu Constituency member of parliament in Agago District and a member of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Malaria, has urged school heads and administrators to establish malaria clubs in all schools.

In an interview with URN, Okot emphasized that launching malaria clubs in schools would help create awareness and foster advocacy in the fight against malaria, similar to other clubs within these institutions.

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Okot explained that the presence of malaria clubs in schools would provide a platform for both learning and advocacy, benefiting children and future generations in the fight against malaria. She also appealed to partners and the government to continue their support for the fight against malaria, both in cash and in kind, and called for collaborative action.

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Dr. Daniel Okello, the Principal Health Officer for Gulu City, called for increased partnership and concerted efforts towards malaria control and eventual elimination from the country.

Okello revealed that malaria remains a significant burden in Acholi and remote areas, highlighting the need for a new, effective approach to eliminate the disease.

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Malaria remains a serious public health issue in Uganda, accounting for 4% of the global malaria cases. It is endemic in nearly all of Uganda, responsible for 30-50% of outpatient visits, 15-20% of hospital admissions, and up to 20% of inpatient deaths.

Uganda continues to be a high-burden malaria country, with vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children under five. The highest transmission areas include northern Uganda (Acholi, Karamoja, Lango, and West Nile regions) and eastern Uganda (Busoga region). 

As of 2022, Uganda had the third-highest global burden of malaria cases (5.1%) and the eighth-highest level of deaths (2.9%). It also had the highest proportion of malaria cases in East and Southern Africa, accounting for 23% of the region’s cases in 2022.