HEALTH

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in partnership with the Rotary Malaria partners, and Uganda Blood Transfusion (UBT) are to carry out a three-day blood donation following the ongoing upsurge of malaria in Northern Uganda and other districts.

The blood donation campaign is against the background that Anaemia is one of the serious complications associated with severe malaria.

Anemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues it makes someone weak and tired.

The blood donation drive aims to avail blood stocks in areas where it is severely lacking and seeks to boost blood collection by at least 15% which will target school children, corporate organisations, Agencies, departments, and private sector.

According to Joyce Moriku Kaducu the state Minister In-charge of Primary Health care, the current Malaria upsurge has affected almost half of the country with approximately 65 districts involved.

The affected areas include; Buganda region, in districts Butambala,Kalangala,Kampala,Kassanda,Kayunga,Kiboga,Kyankwanzi,Kyotera,Luwero,Mityana,Nakasongola,Rakai,Kiboga

Buganda region: Butambala, Kalangala, Kampala, Kassanda, Kayunga, Kiboga, and Kyotera.

Busoga sub-region: Bugweri, Buyende, Kaliro, Kamuli, Luuka, Mayuge, Namayingo ,Bunyoro sub-region: Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kibaale, Kikuube, Kiryandongo, Masindi, Acholi Sub-region: Amuru, Kitgum, Lamwo, Nwoya, Pader, Agago, West Nile sub-region: Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Maracha, Moyo, Nebbi, Pakwach,

Yumbe, Zombo, Lango sub-region: Apac, Kole, Kwania, Omoro, Oyam

Karamoja sub-region: Amudat, Kaabong, Kapelebyong, Moroto, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripiriti, Teso sub-region  has Amuria, Kumi and Soroti ,Eastern region, Bulambuli, Busia, Manafwa, Mbale, Namisindwa, Sironko,  and Western region  has Bundibugyo, Kamwenge, Kanungu, and  Kisoro

The MOH attributes these increased cases to a number of factors among which are aging of mosquito nets, climate change, heavy and intermittent rains, breeding sites, and increased refugees for some districts.

The MOH, therefore, urged the public to sleep under mosquito nets, every night, clear all the breeding places around the homestead, always seek early treatment, to complete dosage as advised by the doctor.

All pregnant women must attend antenatal care visits and stop self-medication to ensure that malaria upsurge is brought to an end.

The ministry further urged the general public to report all the necessary malaria cases to the nearest health facilities.

 

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