Govt to give anti-malaria tablet to all

Apr 26, 2016

The Minister said despite the achievements, the burden of malaria is still with the people. He said more than 40% of people who go for health care have malaria

The Minister of Health Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye has hinted that government will, in addition to other initiatives, give everybody
anti-malaria tablets when resources permit as a way of ending the endemic.

He said this is because malaria parasites reside in human beings not in the mosquitoes.

Dr. Tumwesigye was the chief guest during the World Malaria Day celebrations held in Lira at Golf Course marked under the global theme "End Malaria for good" and Uganda commemorated the day under the slogan of; Prevent, Test and Treat.

He said in the Comoros, the government collaborated with China and got drugs and gave everybody living in the country the anti-malaria medicine and repeated the process after 30 days and this reduce malaria to less than 90% in less than one year.

 regnant mothers getting long lasting insecticide treated nets hoto by udson punyo Pregnant mothers getting long lasting insecticide treated nets. Photo by Hudson Apunyo

 

"Once we get resources, we should explore, after all we now have our factory manufacturing anti-malaria drugs.'

He said once resources are got, shall explore the same in Uganda so that everybody swallow malaria tablet to end the endemic.

The Minister said despite the achievements, the burden of malaria is still with the people. He said more than 40% of people who go for health care have malaria.

The Director General of Health Services Dr. Jane Aceng Ocero said the strategy of test, treat and track of malaria has had great impact.

The representative of the US ambassador to Uganda Jo Lesser Oltheten who is the Director Economic Growth Team of USAID said Malaria Endemic countries like Uganda have made incredible gains in the fight against malaria in the last decade.

here was a blood donation drive during the celebration hoto by udson punyo There was a blood donation drive during the celebration. Photo by Hudson Apunyo

 

She said defeating Malaria is critical in ending poverty and improving maternal and child health.

Jo Lesser said the major accomplishment of President's Malaria Initiative and partners investments has been to change the malaria
landscape in Uganda where people are more able to protect themselves.

World Health Organisation representative in Uganda Miriam Nanyunja said she hope by 2030, the burden of Malaria will be reduced by 90%.


She said diagnosis has been scale up but now there is need to accelerate test, Treat and track.

She said behavior change communication should be very critical for further achievements During the event, the Minister also launched Indoor Resudual Spraying.

Blood donation, distribution of mosquito nets to pregnant mothers, malaria testing and treatment services were provided.

SIBO Africa Medical Devices Co. Ltd also donated 500 mosquito nets to Lira district during the celebration

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});