By Gorreti Marie Zalwango

As Uganda gets ready to celebrate World Malaria Day on April 25, 2023, with a slogan: “It is a collective responsibility”, I would like us to reflect on the contribution each and everyone has made to reducing malaria mortality in our country.

Uganda is highly burdened with malaria and ranks third in the world in regard to malaria cases.

According to the ministry of health district health information system (DHIS2), 3,951 confirmed malaria deaths were recorded in the year 2022 majority of which were children below the age of five years.

However, many of the malaria deaths happen in the communities and are not captured in this system making this an underestimation of the malaria mortality burden. Anaemia is one of the major complications of malaria infection, contributing directly or indirectly to hospitalization and deaths in young children.

While malaria is responsible for anaemia due to hemolysis (rapid breakdown of red blood cells), anaemia in turn lowers the body’s immunity leading to increased exposure to malaria infections and hence the repeated cycle.

Blood transfusions can be life-saving and are the treatment of choice for severe malaria anemia. However, many children die prematurely due to failure to receive this service as evidenced by a study conducted to determine risk factors for deaths among children in Namutumba District in 2022.

The country has experienced increasing blood shortages because blood donation has been majorly left to students. Blood stocks reduced greatly during COVID-19 pandemic when educational institutions where closed and this deficit has continued to grow yet conditions requiring blood remain in existence.

These diseases include: severe malaria anemias, blood cancers, accident patients, mothers in labour among others.

As scientists struggle to find an artificial substitute for human blood, it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that Uganda blood transfusion services (commonly known as the blood bank) have enough stock for everyone in need including ourselves since you may never know when you or your relative will need it.

Additionally, mobilization of our family, friends, and community to donate blood is another way to contribute.

Blood donation services are available for the general population above the age of 16 years with a weight of at least 50Kgs and in basic good health. According to the association of the advancement of blood and biotherapies (AABB) and the food and drug administration body (FDA) requirements, one must wait 2 months between whole blood donations. Permanent blood donation centers are located at Arua, Gulu, Fort Portal, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara, Nakasero, Hoima, Lira, Jinja, Kabale, Kitovu, Rukungiri, and Soroti, and numerous selected donor venues across the country are waiting for you to donate blood throughout the year.

According to the National Malaria Control Program, Uganda is committed to reduce malaria mortality to near zero (1 death per 100,000 population) by 2030 and its indeed a collective responsibility for every Ugandan eligible for blood donation to contribute to the achievement of this goal.  

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