Malaria funding to the region drops by over $6m -WHO report

Knowing that Uganda and the region heavily relies on donor funding for key malaria interventions, the figures as per the recently released World Health Organization report depict a bleak picture after this tumbled by approximately US$6m.

Funding to the East and Southern Africa according to the 2016 World Malaria Report has since 2010 reduced from US$156m to US$150 in 2015.

Malaria in Uganda according to statistics consumes up to 20% of the disease based expenditures on the health sector budget. It also still remains one the major public health challenges contributing with hospital records showing that it's responsible for 30 to 50% of outpatient visits, 15 to 20% of admissions, and 9 to 14 % of inpatient deaths.

Available statistics show that Uganda by 2008 was contributing only 2% towards the entire malaria control initiatives with 88% covered by the global health initiatives by the World Bank, PEPFAR and Global Fund.

The cost of malaria weighs heavily on the country and as earlier argued by the Dr Myers Lugemwa from the National Malaria Control Programme, this is in form of the deaths, out of pocket expenditures and the many hours lost while sick.

Uganda spends an estimated $650m annually on malaria and 40% of school absenteeism are as a result of malaria.

Just last year according to the WHO report, there was an estimated 5million confirmed cases of malaria and 6100 deaths in Uganda.

And according to UNICEF, 42 children die on a daily basis due to the malaria.

However as highlighted recently by the Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance Joy Phumaphi, Uganda is one of the countries that have an aggressive malaria programme.

"They are working really hard. But I know that the outbreaks have made sustaining the gains very difficult.  Uganda needs to streamline and make processes more efficient both within government and between government and partners," she said.

Rather positively, the report indicates a growing decline in malaria related case in the region (East and Southern Africa) with an estimated malaria case incidence decreasing by 22% between 2010 and 2015. Death as a result of malaria also reduced by a similar percentage (22%) in the same period.

Quick tips for malaria prevention

Sleep under an insecticide treated net

Ensure your environment is clear of mosquito breading places like bushes, stagnant water collecting areas.  This also involves leveling the ground, draining pools of water and providing proper waste water management systems.

Screening in windows, ventilators, and eaves to prevent entry of mosquitoes

Closing unscreened windows early in the evening to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house. You can use insecticides to kill those that escape through before you close.