Floods to trigger malaria cases, government warns
Lake shore. Water levels continue to rise on Lake Vitoria at Kitubulu, Entebbe Road. The Health ministry has warned that malaria cases are expected to rise with the onset of rain across the country. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA
What you need to know:
- WHO states that African countries have led a massive effort to control the disease and Algeria was certified malaria free in 2019.
- However, there were still 213m cases in the WHO African region in 2018, accounting for 93 per cent of cases worldwide.
Malaria cases are expected to increase with the current floods that have continued to ravage the country, Ministry of Health has warned.
Dr Jimmy Opigo, the programme manager at the National Malaria Control Programme at the Ministry of Health, said floods are the biggest fear resulting in overflow of lakes, which are breeding mosquitoes.
“The whole of Kyoga basin is flooded even around Lake Victoria. That means more breeding ground for mosquitoes. So we are preparing, there could be high cases of malaria,” Dr Opigo said yesterday.
Lake Victoria is bringing more trouble for residents and business owners on its shores. Scientists have for decades warned of the impact of climate change like the current increase in rainfall.
Dr Opigo said spraying in some of the districts might kick off next week as well as the distribution of nets.
“The lockdown has delayed us. We were supposed to be spraying in some districts before the lockdown, but there is some decision to be made by the start of next week,” Dr Opigo said.
Currently, the Ministry of Health has empowered community health workers with testing equipment and treatment to offer services to those that are unable to walk to hospitals.
“We have supported all community health workers to have testing and treatment so that people who cannot walk to facilities or if they fall sick in the night when there is a curfew, they can be treated. We will focus on prevention,” Dr Opigo added.
WHO states that African countries have led a massive effort to control the disease and Algeria was certified malaria free in 2019.
However, there were still 213m cases in the WHO African region in 2018, accounting for 93 per cent of cases worldwide.
Background
According to Health ministry, Uganda registers 16 malaria deaths per day with 25,000 cases.
Every year, more than 400,000 people die of malaria, and 94 per cent of these deaths occur in the African region, according to World Health Organisation.
Children under five years are the most vulnerable group, accounting for 67 per cent of deaths.
