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In an effort to eliminate malaria by 2030, Uganda has unveiled a national malaria youth corps to strengthen the country’s fight against the disease.

The youth corps were unveiled on March 14, 2024, at Rozaho Restaurant in Kololo, Kampala in a ceremony presided over by Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, the director of public health at the Ministry of Health. Dr Kyabayinze urged the youth to use digital tools in the fight against malaria.

“Malaria remains the leading cause of death in Uganda, particularly among children. With over 90% of our population at risk, this disease places a significant strain on our health system and severely impacts our socio-economic development. Today, we urge our Ugandan youth to stand up and join this social movement of young people aimed at combating malaria,” said Dr Kyabayinze, while unveiling the corps.

According to the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health, malaria is the leading cause of sickness and death in Uganda and is responsible for up to 40% of all outpatient visits, 25% of hospital admissions and 14 per cent of all hospital deaths.

The launch of the Uganda Malaria Youth Corps, along with others across the continent, comes amidst a confluence of challenges. Africa still bears the heaviest burden of malaria globally, accounting for 94% of all global malaria cases (233 million cases) and 95% of all malaria deaths (580,000 deaths). 

Innovative youth awarded

During the function, three youths were awarded prizes for innovations that are crucial in the fight against malaria. Ariho Hillary, a fourth-year student of medicine from King Ceasor University won $500 (sh1.8m) for his innovation that ensures quick diagnosis of malaria in rural areas. In second position was Deborah Chemutai, a third-year student of medicine at Makerere University who won $300 (sh1.1m). 

The third position was jointly taken by Tugume Francis and Achola Jemma, all fourth-year students of medicine at Makerere University who won $200 (sh740,000).

Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze (centre), the director of public health at Ministry Of Health, handing over o $200 cheque to Tugume (third Right) and Achola (second Right).

Speaking to New Vision after receiving his cheque, Ariho said his innovation targets quick diagnosis of malaria at the grassroots by village health teams.

“My innovation consists of a tablet and a temperature gun that nurses and village health team members can use to establish if a person has malaria or not. The tablet has a set of questions whose answers a member of a village health team can base on to refer a malaria case to a bigger health facility,” Ariho said after being announced winner.

Chemutai’s innovation which won her $300 (sh1.1m), ensures real-time collection of malaria data.

“My idea involves enhancing the rapid malaria tests with a micro-chip or software that is able to locate each malaria test carried out in the country. The innovation ensures the reporting of each positive result to a central system which can be a referral hospital or ministry of health,” Chemutai said after being announced.

Tugume and Achola’s innovation was an app known as Malared which enables health workers to feed malaria data into the national register in real time.

Kyabayinze hailed the winners for their innovative ideas and encouraged them to ensure that they are integrated into the health system in future.

Joy Phumaphi, the executive secretary at the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to ending malaria deaths, urged the youth to lead the country’s battle against the disease.

“With nearly 78% of Uganda’s population being under the age of 35, the youth are not just the future; they are the driving force for individual and social change in the present, full of potential for innovative solutions and transformative change. We look forward to harnessing their energy, zeal and urgency to drive grassroots action and contribute immensely to advocacy, action, resource mobilisation and accountability to end malaria once and for all and set a firm path for Africa’s broader health and development agenda and socio-economic transformation that will lead to shared prosperity,” Phumaphi said. 

Ugandan youth corps strategy

Inspired by the ALMA youth strategy of establishment of malaria youth corps in other African countries, the Uganda Malaria Youth Corps brings together a group of young Ugandans, trained through the ALMA Scorecard Hub.

This training encompasses the integration of youth in strategies against not only malaria but also Neglected Tropical Diseases and the pursuit of universal health coverage.

The ALMA Youth Strategy aims to promote mainstreaming of malaria efforts into existing youth structures at continental, regional and country levels – ensuring that young people are deeply involved in the fight against malaria.

Through the 'Zero Malaria Starts with Me' campaign and efforts toward Universal Health Coverage, the strategy encourages the youth to lead in malaria elimination by advocating, communicating, and taking actions based on evidence.