Fort Portal City, Uganda – In a significant step towards eradicating malaria from households, Uganda launched the third wave of its mosquito net distribution campaign across ten districts in the Tooro Sub-Region. The campaign, aimed at curbing the devastating impact of malaria, is a collaborative effort between the Ugandan Ministry of Health, the Global Fund, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United States Government, and the Against Malaria Foundation.
Malaria remains a major health concern in Uganda, responsible for over 40% of health facility visits, 30% of admissions, and 20% of deaths within medical facilities. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Uganda ranks third (3rd) in Africa concerning the burden of malaria, following Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr. Asiimwe Solomon, the City Health Officer of Fort Portal City, expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the campaign. “We aim to eradicate malaria from households,” he stated, emphasising the crucial role of the distributed mosquito nets. Dr Solomon highlighted the importance of recipients using the nets as instructed, underlining the collective effort required to combat malaria effectively.
The Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, commended the progress Uganda has made in the fight against malaria. He stressed the importance of swift action during the ongoing third wave and urged health centers and workers to utilize available resources effectively. “Every net distributed plays a vital role in our collective effort to end malaria,” he emphasized.
Linden Morrison, Head of High Impact Africa at the Global Fund, lauded Uganda’s transformation from the highest-burden to progress, showcasing the power of collaboration. “This campaign aligns with Global Fund’s commitment to fight malaria,” Morrison affirmed. “We stand dedicated to making a lasting impact in the battle against this disease.”
The distribution campaign, organised in waves, covered 16 districts in Wave One and ten districts in Wave Two, including cities such as Soroti and Lira. Under the third wave, ten districts in the Tooro sub-region, namely Buhweju, Kalangala, Sheema, Rubirizi, Kiruhura, Mitooma, Serere, Soroti District, Namisindwa, and Lira District, received mosquito nets. The event saw the participation of partners from the Global Fund and the Against Malaria Foundation, along with local leaders, members of parliament, and senior officials from the Ministry of Health.
The campaign emphasises the importance of community engagement and adherence to guidelines to ensure the effective use of mosquito nets. With the support of international organizations and local stakeholders, Uganda continues its fight against malaria, paving the way for a healthier future for its citizens.
The Ministry of Health officials and the partner agencies later visited a number of health facilities in the area which included Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital and Ruteete Health Centre III to supervise the distribution of the mosquito nets also to check on the progress of the operations of these health facilities. This campaign will cover many other districts throughout the country in a bid to deal with Malaria in the country.
