Why Busoga residents reject govt mosquito nets
A mother with her child sleep under a mosquito net. The Iganga District Health Officer (DHO), Dr David Muwanguzi said malaria prevalence in Busoga Sub-region is still high due to the presence of religions that still teach people not to sleep under the nets. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In February 2017, the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, launched a campaign in Apac District to distribute free mosquito nets.
- The campaign was meant to scale up coverage and the use of long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets which is a proven intervention that reduces the prevalence of malaria in the country.
Residents in Busoga Sub-region have continued to reject the use of mosquito nets and attributing it to cultural norms.
The Iganga District Health Officer (DHO), Dr David Muwanguzi, on Monday said residents have a negative attitude towards sleeping under mosquito nets thinking they are for beautifying their houses.
“A big percentage of our people do not have beds and mattresses where they can tie those nets as recommended by the Health ministry,” he said.
Dr Muwanguzi said malaria prevalence in Busoga Sub-region is still high due to the presence of religions that still teach people not to sleep under the nets, while others simply say they make them uncomfortable. He said only 60 per cent of residents in his district sleep under a mosquito net.
The Bugiri DHO, Dr Stephen Kiirya Bulolo, blamed the high prevalence of malaria in the district on the continuous misuse of mosquito nets. “After receiving the nets, people used them for fishing, trapping white ants and for covering nursery beds,” he explained.
According to Dr Kiirya, Bugiri has the highest percentage of malaria prevalence [23 per cent] in Busoga Sub-region, a trend he attributed to more breeding grounds in lakes and swamps.
“Malaria prevalence in Bugiri stands at 23 per cent compared to other districts such as Namutumba which has 9 per cent, this means out of every 10 people, six test positive for malaria,” Dr Kiirya said.
The DHO of Mayuge, Dr Charles Nabangi, said: “People need to be sensitised before they are given the nets.”
In Namutumba, the DHO, Dr James Kiirya, said: “Our people lack information and need to be reminded about the value of sleeping under a mosquito net.”
Ms Edith Kakose, a Village Health Team member from Kigalama Parish in Namutumba Sub-county, said people fear to use mosquito nets claiming it makes women infertile.
“In most homes, you only find the husband sleeping under a mosquito net while the wife does not,” she said.
Mr William Musoke, a parish councillor in Bugobi Sub-county in Namutumba, said government should monitor the use of nets.
“I am sure once the government makes a follow up of these nets, many people will put them into proper use,” he said.
