Under the weather
Apr 06, 2008
WAILS fill the children’s ward at Mulago Hospital, one after another, for about five times. It is the bereaved mothers, who have lost their children to the deadly malaria.
Today is World Health Day. It will be celebrated under the theme, Protecting Health from Climate Change. Below, Conan Businge explains how climatic change is a health threat to Uganda
WAILS fill the children’s ward at Mulago Hospital, one after another, for about five times. It is the bereaved mothers, who have lost their children to the deadly malaria.
Do you know that climate change has a hand in the death of a child every five minutes in Uganda? With increased temperatures worldwide, mosquitoes which cause malaria, can now thrive in areas they never used to.
Statistics from the health ministry indicate that malaria is the leading cause of child mortality. Between 70,000 and 110,000 children in Uganda die every year from malaria.
This represents 30% of the country’s child mortality rate between the ages of two and four. Estimates from the Ministry of Health indicate that the average expenditure on malaria-related treatment is $300m (sh510b) annually.
Malaria has increased throughout the country and has reached ‘epidemic proportions’ in south-western Uganda, according to a report titled, Climate Change, Uganda National Adaptation Programmes of Action, which was released last month.
The highlands were originally malaria-free and people there have not developed immunity for the disease. This makes them more susceptible to the disease.
The report noted an increase in malaria cases – 43% in Ntungamo, 51% in Kabale and 135% in Mbarara.
In the semi-arid areas, tick-borne diseases have become rampant because of higher temperatures. The tse-tse fly belt has expanded, while meningitis and eye infections are on the increase.
“Severe droughts resulted into frequent dust storms and associated respiratory and eye infections in low-lying areas, especially in Nakasongola, Lira and Rakai, the report states.
It also says rainfall has become erratic and its amounts decreased across the country. Landslides occurred in the highlands, while lowlands faced flooding, leading to the spread of waterborne diseases.
“A large proportion of the rural poor do not have pit latrines. Floods pose serious pollution problems to sources of drinking water, leaving people in danger of contracting water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid and dysentery,†the report notes.
The principal medical officer in charge of non-communicable diseases, Dr. James Sekajugo, says the health ministry is carrying out research on non-communicable diseases.
“Non-communicable diseases are responsible for many deaths in the country and we are ready to fight them,†he says.
However, annually, less than 5% of the national budget is allocated to research in the health ministry.
The director-general of health services, Dr. Sam Zaramba, says the Government plans to raise the fund to 5%, beginning next financial year.
WAILS fill the children’s ward at Mulago Hospital, one after another, for about five times. It is the bereaved mothers, who have lost their children to the deadly malaria.
Do you know that climate change has a hand in the death of a child every five minutes in Uganda? With increased temperatures worldwide, mosquitoes which cause malaria, can now thrive in areas they never used to.
Statistics from the health ministry indicate that malaria is the leading cause of child mortality. Between 70,000 and 110,000 children in Uganda die every year from malaria.
This represents 30% of the country’s child mortality rate between the ages of two and four. Estimates from the Ministry of Health indicate that the average expenditure on malaria-related treatment is $300m (sh510b) annually.
Malaria has increased throughout the country and has reached ‘epidemic proportions’ in south-western Uganda, according to a report titled, Climate Change, Uganda National Adaptation Programmes of Action, which was released last month.
The highlands were originally malaria-free and people there have not developed immunity for the disease. This makes them more susceptible to the disease.
The report noted an increase in malaria cases – 43% in Ntungamo, 51% in Kabale and 135% in Mbarara.
In the semi-arid areas, tick-borne diseases have become rampant because of higher temperatures. The tse-tse fly belt has expanded, while meningitis and eye infections are on the increase.
“Severe droughts resulted into frequent dust storms and associated respiratory and eye infections in low-lying areas, especially in Nakasongola, Lira and Rakai, the report states.
It also says rainfall has become erratic and its amounts decreased across the country. Landslides occurred in the highlands, while lowlands faced flooding, leading to the spread of waterborne diseases.
“A large proportion of the rural poor do not have pit latrines. Floods pose serious pollution problems to sources of drinking water, leaving people in danger of contracting water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid and dysentery,†the report notes.
The principal medical officer in charge of non-communicable diseases, Dr. James Sekajugo, says the health ministry is carrying out research on non-communicable diseases.
“Non-communicable diseases are responsible for many deaths in the country and we are ready to fight them,†he says.
However, annually, less than 5% of the national budget is allocated to research in the health ministry.
The director-general of health services, Dr. Sam Zaramba, says the Government plans to raise the fund to 5%, beginning next financial year.