UNICEF, Japanese government launch anti-malaria drive in Lango
Nov 16, 2008
UNICEF, in partnership with the government of Japan, has begun distributing 230,000 insecticide treated mosquito nets in Lango region.
By Chris Ocowun
UNICEF, in partnership with the government of Japan, has begun distributing 230,000 insecticide treated mosquito nets in Lango region.
The nets, worth $3m (about sh5.5b), are to be given to children under five, pregnant mothers and other vulnerable groups.
Apac is considered to have the highest rate of malaria transmission in the country, with an average of 1,565 mosquito bites per person per year, the latest UNICEF report has revealed.
The state minister for health (general duties), Dr. Richard Nduhuura, on Friday said: “Women bear the brunt of malaria through miscarriages, anaemia, still births, underweight babies and sometimes death. Use these nets effectively: Do not sell them or use them as wedding gowns as has been reported in some areas.
Instead, use the nets to protect yourselves against the Anopheles mosquito, a vector that carries malaria,†Nduhuura advised.
Nduhuura was speaking at a function organised to kick off the distribution of the nets at Adek Primary School in Oyam district.
Nduhuura said that while other countries have been able to drastically reduce or eliminate cases of malaria, 15 people die of the disease every hour in Uganda.
He said besides the distribution of the nets, the Government is committed to carry out DDT spraying in all districts to eliminate malaria mosquitoes.
The UNICEF country representative, Keith McKenzie, said each malaria death “represents a needless loss; an unacceptable loss, when we know they can be prevented. And in the fight against the disease, we are deploying our biggest weapons here.â€
The Japanese ambassador, Kato Keiichi, said the one-year project — which is funded by the government of Japan in partnership with UNICEF — is being implemented in Apac, Lira, Amolatar, Dokolo and Oyam districts.
Keiichi said: “It aims at reducing malaria-related mortality and morbidity among children under five and pregnant women, by increasing the proportion of households with at least two nets from only 9.5% to 70%; promoting the consistent and proper use of nets and providing home-based treatment of fever and intermittent presumptive treatment as part of antenatal care services. I hope this intervention will bring about a significant drop in malaria cases in the sub-region.â€
“The project will also provide essential medicines and training for the community-based health workers so that the community members can receive adequate treatment immediately,†Keiichi added.
According to Oyam’s chairman and its director of health services — retired Col. Charles Okello Engola and Dr. Vincent Owiny respectively — after the spraying of DDT in Oyam and Apac districts in April, cases of malaria reduced by 40%.
The leaders said there would have been a 90% reduction if bed nets had been given out to the communities at the same time.
Nduhuura said the Government had engaged lawyers to resolve the suspension of DDT spraying in Lango following a court injunction filed by certain individuals. He said the Government chose to begin the nation-wide spraying in Lango due to the high rate of malaria infection in the region as compared to the rest of the country.
The project is to provide essential anti-malarial drugs like Coartem to village health teams so locals can recieve treatment within 24 hours.
UNICEF, in partnership with the government of Japan, has begun distributing 230,000 insecticide treated mosquito nets in Lango region.
The nets, worth $3m (about sh5.5b), are to be given to children under five, pregnant mothers and other vulnerable groups.
Apac is considered to have the highest rate of malaria transmission in the country, with an average of 1,565 mosquito bites per person per year, the latest UNICEF report has revealed.
The state minister for health (general duties), Dr. Richard Nduhuura, on Friday said: “Women bear the brunt of malaria through miscarriages, anaemia, still births, underweight babies and sometimes death. Use these nets effectively: Do not sell them or use them as wedding gowns as has been reported in some areas.
Instead, use the nets to protect yourselves against the Anopheles mosquito, a vector that carries malaria,†Nduhuura advised.
Nduhuura was speaking at a function organised to kick off the distribution of the nets at Adek Primary School in Oyam district.
Nduhuura said that while other countries have been able to drastically reduce or eliminate cases of malaria, 15 people die of the disease every hour in Uganda.
He said besides the distribution of the nets, the Government is committed to carry out DDT spraying in all districts to eliminate malaria mosquitoes.
The UNICEF country representative, Keith McKenzie, said each malaria death “represents a needless loss; an unacceptable loss, when we know they can be prevented. And in the fight against the disease, we are deploying our biggest weapons here.â€
The Japanese ambassador, Kato Keiichi, said the one-year project — which is funded by the government of Japan in partnership with UNICEF — is being implemented in Apac, Lira, Amolatar, Dokolo and Oyam districts.
Keiichi said: “It aims at reducing malaria-related mortality and morbidity among children under five and pregnant women, by increasing the proportion of households with at least two nets from only 9.5% to 70%; promoting the consistent and proper use of nets and providing home-based treatment of fever and intermittent presumptive treatment as part of antenatal care services. I hope this intervention will bring about a significant drop in malaria cases in the sub-region.â€
“The project will also provide essential medicines and training for the community-based health workers so that the community members can receive adequate treatment immediately,†Keiichi added.
According to Oyam’s chairman and its director of health services — retired Col. Charles Okello Engola and Dr. Vincent Owiny respectively — after the spraying of DDT in Oyam and Apac districts in April, cases of malaria reduced by 40%.
The leaders said there would have been a 90% reduction if bed nets had been given out to the communities at the same time.
Nduhuura said the Government had engaged lawyers to resolve the suspension of DDT spraying in Lango following a court injunction filed by certain individuals. He said the Government chose to begin the nation-wide spraying in Lango due to the high rate of malaria infection in the region as compared to the rest of the country.
The project is to provide essential anti-malarial drugs like Coartem to village health teams so locals can recieve treatment within 24 hours.