New malaria fight plan

Disease control. The five-pillar strategy is meant to address the issue of insecticide resistance and find new strategies.

A five-pillar strategy has been set up to tackle the growing threat of insecticide resistance and facilitate the development of innovative vector control tools and strategies, a new report released by Global Health Organisations yesterday indicates.

The report is in response to a 2011 call from the World Health Assembly and the Board of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership that action be taken to develop a global strategy on insecticide resistance management.
According to a statement from the World Health Organisation, the plan has the latest evidence on the extent of insecticide resistance around the world, and puts forward a strategy for global and country levels, identifying clear roles and timelines for all stakeholders.
It also summarises information about innovative new products being developed and sets out the immediate research and development priorities.
During the launch of the plan last year, Dr Hiroki Nakatani, the WHO assistant director-general for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, said malaria was a key priority.

“While significant progress has been made in the fight against the disease in the last decade, the challenge of insecticide resistance must be addressed,” he said.

In the 2012 world malaria report, Uganda ranked fourth among six high-burden countries in Africa affected by Malaria. It was indicated that the country may not meet the global target of reducing new malaria cases and deaths by 2015.

Other countries with high rates included Nigeria, DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique and Cote d’Ivoire.
Currently Uganda is battling a complicated form of Malaria in Mubende District, which has killed five people and left 30 others admitted. The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Asuman Lukwago, said experts from the ministry were handling the situation.

stumwebaze@ug.nationmedia.com