UK supports Uganda in the fight against malaria

Jul 30, 2019

Malaria prevalence in Uganda has reduced markedly from 42% in 2009 to the current level of 19%.

HEALTH

KAMPALA - The UK Government has earmarked over sh200b to support the ongoing efforts to fight malaria in 26 districts.

The announcement was made on Tuesday at the launch of the Target Malaria Insectary at the Uganda Virus Research Institute.

Malaria prevalence in Uganda has reduced markedly from 42%  in 2009 to the current level of 19%. A 2013/2014 report by the Parliamentary Committee on Health showed that 50% of deaths caused by malaria in Uganda are among children below five years.

The five-year support worth sh206b that started in 2018 and will end in 2022, is channeled through the United Nations Children's Fund(UNICEF) and USAID.

"Investing in strategies to prevent and control malaria will save thousands of children from dying. Many families will be spared the unspeakable grief of losing a child.  And those children will be able to contribute to building Uganda's future. That in itself is a reason to support the fight against malaria, and the UK is proud to do so," said Peter West, the British High Commissioner to Uganda.

The main priorities of the UKaid funding include,  strengthening district health systems, including malaria epidemiological and entomological surveillance; strengthening capacity of districts in management of malaria interventions; improving access and uptake of malaria prevention interventions like increase in intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy and increase in access and use of insecticide treated mosquito nets and improving diagnosis and treatment of malaria in the public and private sectors and community level.

At the national level, the UKaid funding is geared towards strengthening of capacity of the National Malaria Control Programme and improvement of the quality and use of data.

Uganda, according to WHO is still at the control stage. The main objective at this stage is reducing malaria cases and deaths by providing access to preventive methods, diagnostic testing and treatment to the entire population at risk.

A number of interventions such as mass distribution of long lasting insecticide treated mosquito have been earmarked by government to control malaria.

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