Experts discuss malaria
Oct 03, 2006
SCIENTISTS and researchers last week concluded a two-day forum that displayed interesting sparks as fiery arguments and debates concluded many research presentations.
By Hilary Bainemigisha
SCIENTISTS and researchers last week concluded a two-day forum that displayed interesting sparks as fiery arguments and debates concluded many research presentations.
Over 50 scientists attended the forum jointly organised by the Uganda National Academy of science (UNAS) together with the US National Academies at Speke Resort, Munyonyo to discuss malaria prevention and control. More than a dozen research findings and recommendation reports were presented and many of them raised a lot of dust in arguments laden with deep and extended knowledge. It was indeed a den of brains.
Among the topics addressed were DDT, the role of traditional medicine, capacity building, drug quality and resistance patterns, malaria policies and strategies and community empowerment.
Others included the role of spraying and nets, malaria research, the economics of drugs and the environment’s management of the disease.
The forum noted that in malaria control, no size fits all. That the war against malaria should be expanded to a holistic approach which must include everyone, not just medical doctors and scientists. Members noted that most efforts had been put on curative care ignoring preventive programmes which are more promising. Malaria, they said, was a global problem whose control requires international co-operation.
UNAS concluded by noting ways in which they could influence policy, advise the Government, evaluate programmes and assist in research.
While closing the forum on Thursday, former vice-president Dr Specioza Kazibwe, who is a member of UNAS, called on the Government to subsidise research because its information has tremendous impact to the whole world.
She called on members to consider input of other stakeholders in the war against malaria. “When HIV/AIDS reduced from 30% to 6% it was not because of one factor. We involved scientists, artists, policy makers, traditional doctors, scholars, social workers, parents – everyone. The same should be done on malaria.â€
The assistant commissioner epidemiology and surveillance in the Ministry of Health, Dr Ambrose Talisuna, said malaria causes more illness and death in Uganda than any other single disease.
SCIENTISTS and researchers last week concluded a two-day forum that displayed interesting sparks as fiery arguments and debates concluded many research presentations.
Over 50 scientists attended the forum jointly organised by the Uganda National Academy of science (UNAS) together with the US National Academies at Speke Resort, Munyonyo to discuss malaria prevention and control. More than a dozen research findings and recommendation reports were presented and many of them raised a lot of dust in arguments laden with deep and extended knowledge. It was indeed a den of brains.
Among the topics addressed were DDT, the role of traditional medicine, capacity building, drug quality and resistance patterns, malaria policies and strategies and community empowerment.
Others included the role of spraying and nets, malaria research, the economics of drugs and the environment’s management of the disease.
The forum noted that in malaria control, no size fits all. That the war against malaria should be expanded to a holistic approach which must include everyone, not just medical doctors and scientists. Members noted that most efforts had been put on curative care ignoring preventive programmes which are more promising. Malaria, they said, was a global problem whose control requires international co-operation.
UNAS concluded by noting ways in which they could influence policy, advise the Government, evaluate programmes and assist in research.
While closing the forum on Thursday, former vice-president Dr Specioza Kazibwe, who is a member of UNAS, called on the Government to subsidise research because its information has tremendous impact to the whole world.
She called on members to consider input of other stakeholders in the war against malaria. “When HIV/AIDS reduced from 30% to 6% it was not because of one factor. We involved scientists, artists, policy makers, traditional doctors, scholars, social workers, parents – everyone. The same should be done on malaria.â€
The assistant commissioner epidemiology and surveillance in the Ministry of Health, Dr Ambrose Talisuna, said malaria causes more illness and death in Uganda than any other single disease.