Eliminate Malaria Now: Uganda's commitment to ending Malaria by 2030

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OPINION

By Patrick Kwizera

As the world gears up for World Malaria Day on April 25, 2025, Uganda joins the global effort to raise awareness about this deadly yet preventable disease. The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Eliminate Malaria Now,” a call to action that resonates deeply in Uganda, where malaria remains one of the top causes of illness and death.

Since its inception by the World Health Assembly in 2007, World Malaria Day has served as a reminder that malaria—though preventable and treatable—remains a major public health burden, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Uganda continues to be one of the most affected countries. We are therefore reminded to sleep under mosquito nets, seek medical care as soon as we feel unwell, clear bushes and water around homes to avoid mosquito bleeding, and embrace the malaria vaccine for children below 5 years of age when it gets enrolled into the routine vaccination program.

According to the World Malaria Report 2024, Uganda accounts for 4.8% of global malaria cases and 2.7% of malaria-related deaths, ranking 3rd in malaria cases and 10th in deaths worldwide. In 2023, Uganda recorded 12.5 million cases and 15,363 deaths—slightly lower than the 12.6 million cases and 16,416 deaths reported in 2022. While these reductions are encouraging, the road to elimination remains long and requires sustained commitment.

The 2025 theme, “Eliminate Malaria Now,” is a powerful call to action—not just for government and health workers, but for every Ugandan. Malaria doesn’t only impact individual health; it weakens families, disrupts communities, and remains a significant barrier to sustainable development, especially in rural areas where most of the population is still at high risk.

But there’s good news: Uganda is making significant progress toward malaria elimination. Through a combination of innovative prevention measures, such as widespread distribution of insecticide-treated nets, indoor spraying with insecticides, and increased access to diagnostic testing and treatment services, Uganda is steadily advancing toward the ambitious goal of a malaria-free future.

Additionally, vaccination campaigns of a World Health Organization recommended malaria vaccine for children under 5 years of age, which are already being rolled out in parts of the country, hold the promise of reducing malaria transmission even further.

However, these efforts need collective action. Government policies, community mobilization, and increased public awareness are crucial to sustaining and building upon these gains. As individuals, families, and communities, every Ugandan has a role to play. Simple actions, such as sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net, seeking prompt diagnosis and treatment at the health facility, and clearing bushes and water around our homes, can collectively make a significant difference in the fight against malaria.

The theme for World Malaria Day 2025 isn’t just about awareness; it’s about taking bold steps to eliminate the disease once and for all. As Uganda continues to fight malaria, it will require innovation, funding, and above all, unity to achieve a malaria-free future. Each life saved is not just a victory for health, but a victory for the nation as a whole.

As we observe World Malaria Day 2025, we are reminded that malaria is preventable and treatable. By sleeping under mosquito nets, seeking of medical care as soon as you feel unwell, clearing bushes and water around homes to avoid mosquito breeding, and vaccinating children below 5 years of age, we can eliminate malaria from our communities. Together, we can take a stand against malaria and work towards a malaria-free Uganda. Let’s make the dream of a healthier future a reality. Eliminate Malaria Now!

The writer is a Field Epidemiology Fellow with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, National Malaria Elimination Division, Ministry of Health, Uganda