Published on 19/11/2024
Malaria experts in Uganda have called for urgent funding to protect vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women from the disease.
Dr. Jane Irene Nabakooza, a senior health official, Technical Lead for Malaria Chemoprevention and Vaccines at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the need for action during a press briefing in Parliament. Her appeal comes ahead of National Children’s Malaria Conversation Week, highlighting the disease’s devastating impact. With increased support, Uganda aims to reduce malaria deaths and improve child health.
“We need greater support for the Ministry of Health to reduce the burden of this ‘monster’ disease, which is hindering our national productivity and development goals,” Nabakooza said. She noted that malaria severely impacts children’s educational and developmental prospects. “A child frequently suffering from malaria cannot compete academically with peers who haven’t faced the disease,” she added.
Nabakooza explained that children affected by malaria often miss school, face academic struggles and encounter developmental delays. For pregnant women, malaria increases the risk of cognitive and emotional impairments in newborns. She emphasized the urgent need for additional resources to provide widespread access to malaria prevention tools, including mosquito nets and, potentially, a vaccine.
MP Geoffrey Mutiwa (Bunyole West) highlighted the upcoming National Children’s Malaria Conversation Week, aimed at addressing malaria’s toll on children and pregnant women. He cited data from the 2023 Annual Global Malaria Report, which ranks Uganda among the top three countries globally for malaria cases, with over three million cases and more than 50 child deaths per day.
“Malaria during pregnancy is a national crisis that threatens mothers, infants, and Uganda’s future,” Mutiwa said, calling on Parliament to fund free Fansidar for pregnant women at all health facilities to curb malaria-related deaths.
MP Santa Okot (Aruu North) urged a comprehensive mobilization campaign against malaria, modeled after Uganda’s successful HIV/AIDS response, to raise awareness and prevent the disease. She advocated for a separate budget for malaria, distinct from the broader health budget, to enable targeted funding and monitoring.
MP Hellen Auma (Busia DWR) commended the government’s mosquito net distribution efforts but stressed the need for public education on proper net usage and awareness of malaria risks. “People often misuse nets for other purposes,” Auma remarked, expressing hope for a malaria vaccine to strengthen prevention efforts.
MP Agnes Acibu (Nebbi DWR) emphasized empowering Village Health Teams (VHTs), crediting them with educating communities on malaria prevention. “VHTs are crucial for reaching rural communities,” she said, underscoring the need for sustained support.
The Ministry of Health announced plans to introduce a malaria vaccine in Uganda following successful rollouts in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, where it has significantly reduced severe malaria cases in children. “The vaccine has shown success in other countries, and we hope to see similar outcomes in Uganda,” said Nabakooza.
Malaria remains endemic in most regions of Uganda, accounting for around 65% of maternal mortality and 60% of spontaneous abortions among pregnant women. The prevalence rate among children under five stands at 19%.
Since 2012, Uganda’s annual investment in malaria control has ranged from $115 million (UGX 420.24 billion) to $160 million (UGX 584.682 billion), with over 90% of funding coming from external donors, including The Global Fund and U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative.
