Rains to trigger malaria surge, health official warns

Misuse. Children use a mosquito net to trap white ants in Nalubabwe Village, Kizuba Sub-county in Namutumba District on October 9, 2019. File photo

KAMPALA- Malaria cases are expected to increase at the end of the year due to heavy rains being  experienced across the country.

Dr Jimmy Opigo, the programme manager at the National Malaria Control Programme at the Ministry of Health, said malaria cases are projected to increase from 11 million to 15 million

“Last year, we reported about 11 million cases. This year, with the upsurge, we may report up to 15 million malaria cases because of the weather phenomenon we are dealing with which has enabled lots of mosquitos to breed,” Dr Opigo said on Friday in Kampala.

Currently, the country is facing a malaria upsurge which has affected at least 65 districts with over 400,000 more cases this year compared to last year.

Regions facing the upsurge include; Kyotera, Butambala, Kalangala, Luweero, Kampala, Kayunga, Buikwe, Rakai, Kyankwanzi, Mubende, Nakasongola, among others.

According to the Ministry of Health, at least 7,000 people succumb to malaria every year.

Dr Patrick Tusiime, the Commissioner National Disease Control said the number could be higher given that some cases of malaria deaths happen in communities and often go unnoticed and are not documented.

“We need people to get involved in order to address this problem. There is need for a multi-sector approach. It is too much for 7,000 people to die due to malaria every year,” Dr Tusiime said.

The government together with Rotarians have embarked on a multi-sector approach to fight malaria.

Mr Solomon Ossiya, the director of Rotarian Malaria Partners, said they will use their clubs across the country to   involve communities and homesteads in different malaria prevention activities.

“With over 116 clubs  in Uganda, with a very wide geographical reach, we want to see how Rotarians can come unite within their clubs and communities sleep under mosquito nets among other prevention methods,” he said.

Mr Ossiya said Rotarians globally, have raised $20 million towards the effort.

He said Rotary clubs can apply for small grants of between $5,000 and $10,000 dollars to carry out malaria prevention activities.

“If you have a really good proposal, you can see grants go up to $200,000. So, the issue is not necessarily about money it is about the will to fight malaria,” he said.