Museveni asks Ugandans to embrace malaria vaccine
A health worker administers malaria vaccine during the official launch in Apac town on April 2, 2025. Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Health Minister and Ms Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister holding children. Photo/ Tonny Abet
What you need to know:
- Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, appealed to Ugandans to take their children for vaccination while adhering to preventive measures like sleeping under mosquito bed nets.
The government of Uganda on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 rolled out national malaria vaccination campaign, with the official launch happening in the Apac District, one of the areas with the highest malaria burden in the country.
During the launch, mothers could be seen bringing their children for the free inoculation, which requires four doses administered separately between six to 18 months to optimize protection from severe malaria.
In his speech, President Museveni who was represented by the Prime Minister, Ms Robinah Nabbanja, noted that malaria has been one of the biggest nightmares of the country, with children most affected.
"Malaria has been one of Uganda’s biggest health challenges, accounting to nearly 30 percent of outpatient visits and 20 percent of hospital death with our children of under five bearing the greatest burden," Mr Museveni noted.
"This vaccine, which has been proven to significantly reduce severe malaria cases and hospitalization, is a game changer. This vaccine must be used with our existing preventive measures, such as mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying and prompt treatment of a fever within 24 hours. It will accelerate our journey towards a malaria-free Uganda," he added.
In his remarks, the President appealed to parents to embrace the vaccines and also asked the health workers to be committed to vaccination to reach every eligible child.
"To the parents and caregivers, take advantage of this vaccine. Take your children for immunization and complete all the recommended doses. This is their right and your responsibility. A vaccinated child is a productive and healthy child. Our children are the future and the hope of our nation," he stated.
Mr Museveni further appealed to development partners to continue supporting the vaccination program.
Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, appealed to Ugandans to take their children for vaccination while adhering to preventive measures like sleeping under mosquito bed nets.
"I urge all parents and caregivers to ensure that children aged 6 to 18 months receive the Malaria vaccine at the nearest health facility. For the best protection, it is essential that the children complete all four doses on schedule," she said.
“The introduction of the vaccine marks a significant milestone in our fight against Malaria. It is expected to prevent at least 800 cases of severe Malaria among children every day and ease the financial burden on families, saving them approximately Shs15,000 per case that would have been spent on treating severe Malaria," she added.
The district political leadership indicated that due to high death rates in Apac from malaria, the area has been struggling to attract settlers and developers because people assume the malaria deaths are due to witchcraft. The area has many swamps, making control of mosquito breeding hard.
Commenting on the historic rollout, Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO Gavi, noted that with one of the highest malaria incidence rates globally, Uganda faces a relentless battle against this deadly disease that has devastated families and communities for far too long.
"The malaria vaccine, proven safe and effective, saves lives and prevents hospitalisations. However, without sustained financial support, these life-saving efforts could falter, leaving millions of children vulnerable and undermining the progress made so far. Continued funding is crucial to sustain and expand these efforts, ensuring that more children are protected, and more countries benefit from this vital tool," she said.
UNICEF, responsible for the procurement and air freighting of the vaccines and raising awareness within the community to enhance demand for vaccines, reaffirmed its commitment to
child health and immunisation efforts in Uganda.
Dr Robin Nandy, UNICEF Representative to Uganda, said: "UNICEF is proud to support Uganda's historic rollout of the malaria vaccine, which represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to protect children from this deadly disease. This vaccine must be combined with existing preventive measures and this combination of preventive measures will create a powerful shield against malaria. We urge all parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive all four doses of this life-saving vaccine as part of Uganda's routine immunization services."
The World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, Dr Kasonde Mulenga Mwinga emphasized that the vaccine is safe and effective. She said the vaccine has been used in other countries with a demonstrated impact on reducing malaria deaths by 13 percent.
