Health officials in Buikwe District have identified malaria as a primary contributor to child mortality, particularly among those under the age of five. According to Dr. Richard Bossa, the District Health Officer (DHO), the disease accounts for a significant 30 percent of deaths in this age group, emphasizing the urgent need to combat this health threat.
Dr. Bossa attributed the prevalence of malaria to various environmental factors in Buikwe District, including water bodies, slums with inadequate housing, forests, humid environments, and sugarcane plantations. These conditions create favorable breeding grounds for mosquitoes, amplifying the risk of malaria transmission.
Highlighting an additional vulnerability, Dr. Bossa warned that expectant mothers are also at risk of contracting malaria if they fail to sleep under treated mosquito nets. Agnes Nakkazi, a Senior Medical Clinical Officer at St Francis Hospital, Nyenga, further explained that malaria can be transmitted from an expectant mother to the unborn baby through the umbilical cord if the mother remains untreated.
Nakkazi emphasized that malaria-infected babies are more prone to miscarriages, as the parasites can cause infections in the system, leading to severe complications and potential loss of the unborn child. To counteract this risk, expectant mothers are provided with fansidar tablets during their hospital or clinic visits from the second trimester onwards, ensuring monthly administration until delivery to prevent malaria transmission to the unborn baby.
In addition to medical interventions, Nakkazi advocated for the use of treated mosquito nets as a crucial preventive measure for expectant mothers, babies, and the general population. By creating a protective barrier against mosquito bites, these nets play a vital role in reducing the incidence of malaria.
Reflecting on global efforts in 2023, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged progress in addressing major health challenges but expressed concern over “immense and avoidable suffering.” Notably, the UN health agency approved new vaccines for malaria, dengue, and meningitis, marking a significant step forward in the ongoing battle against infectious diseases.
