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Ministry of Health Holds Virtual Discussion on Malaria Control to Celebrate World Malaria Day

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Agnes Kiconco

KIU, Main Campus - The Uganda Ministry of Health has joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Malaria Day. A team of experts will discuss the need for domestic financing for malaria control and elimination via zoom at 2:00 pm today, even though the actual day is celebrated on April 25.

On Tuesday, the World Health Organization(WHO) said more than  650,000 children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi have received the malaria vaccine in the past two years since its launch. This year, WHO and partners will mark World Malaria Day by celebrating the achievements of countries that are approaching and achieving malaria elimination. 

According to the Malaria Atlas Project, infection prevalence in Africa was halved and the incidence of clinical disease fell by 40% between 2000 and 2015. Despite this great progress, each country still faces individual challenges to address their specific malaria needs. 

In Uganda, the overall goal of the plan is to reduce mortality due to malaria by 80% of the 2010 levels and reduce morbidity due to malaria by 75% of the 2010 levels, thereby setting the ground for pre-elimination subsequently. This is in line with the regional strategy for malaria elimination endorsed by the Government of Uganda.

In a bid to have a malaria-free Uganda, the Ministry of Health in November 2020, flagged off the second phase of mosquito net distribution where a total of 6.5 million treated nets were distributed.

In addition to that, the government also has a National malaria control program that provides quality assured services for Malaria prevention and treatment to all people in Uganda. The program guides Malaria control efforts as outlined in the Malaria Reduction Strategic Plan 2014 – 2020 (UMRSP).

The Uganda Malaria Reduction Strategic Plan (UMRSP) is to reduce mortality due to malaria by 80% of the 2010 levels and reduce morbidity due to malaria by 75% of the 2010 levels, thereby setting the ground for pre-elimination subsequently. 

Picture credit: Vecteezy