Buwunga residents urged to embrace mosquito nets
Sep 13, 2023
“Embrace sleeping under mosquito nets, clearing bushes near your home that are the breeding places for mosquitos,’’ Muleke says.
(L-R) Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi, the Masaka RCC, County Chief of Buddu Pokino Muleke and Reagan Namanya the board member of Malaria Partners during the launch of Malaria free. (Photos by Ramadhan Abbe)
New Vision Journalist
Journalist @New Vision
_________________________ A UPDF medical officer measuring blood pressure of the patient during medical camp at Buwunga Sub-County Masaka
Residents of the Buwunga sub-county in the Masaka district have been asked to embrace the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs).
LLINs are mosquito nets that have the insecticide incorporated in their fibre, so that it is not removed by as many as 20 washes.
The move, according to Buddu County Chief Jude Muleke, will ensure that malaria incidences will reduce in the area.
“Embrace sleeping under mosquito nets, clearing bushes near your home that are the breeding places for mosquitos,’’ Muleke says.
Muleke made the call on Sunday while launching a malaria-free campaign and a medical camp organised by Malaria Partners Uganda in partnership with Buwunga Health Centre III, Red Cross Masaka, Abemikwano Uganda. The event took place at the Buwunga sub-county headquarters.
The two-day medical camp was under the theme: Let us Go Green, Plant trees that fight malaria.
During the medical camp, residents received free medical services, including HIV testing and counseling, malaria testing, and dental and eye checking.
The medical camp, which also saw a blood donation drive, attracted health experts from the Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Police.
Teddy Namayanja, the in-charge of Buwunga Health Centre III, lauded Malaria Partners Uganda for what she called a big boost.
"Our people don’t want to sleep under mosquito nets, yet when they suffer from malaria, they resort to herbal concoctions putting their lives at risk," she said.
Malaria Partners Uganda programmes manager Eva Kagona Mwanda said they decided to have a medical camp after discovering that Buwunga Health Centre III recorded high cases of malaria (over 80-100 malaria cases are recorded every month).
Expensive treatment
Hajji Haruna Kavuma, 91, a resident of Mikoni, said the medical camp was timely because the economy is harsh to almost everyone.
“Imagine when you go for private clinics, a dose of malaria drugs goes for between shillings 30,000 and 70,000. That is why we resort to Aloe Vera (Kigajji) to treat malaria,” Kavuma said.
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