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U.N Calls For Collective Effort in Malaria Fight
Kampala, Apr 27, 2009 (New Vision/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --
On the occasion of the 2009 World Malaria Day, the United Nations in Uganda yesterday called for intensified national efforts to fight malaria - the number one killer of children in the country - through effective measures, including spraying, the use of nets, sensitisation, preparedness and preventive treatments for pregnant women.
Dr. Joaquim Saweka, Country Representative for the World Health Organisation (WHO), stressed the importance of Long-lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LITNs); Indoor Residual Spraying; Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy; epidemic preparedness and response in regions prone to malaria, as well as capacity development and advocacy.
"One of WHO's priorities in Uganda is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health to effectively prevent and control malaria," Dr. Saweka said.
"In this regard, in collaboration with the Roll Back Malaria initiative, we have developed the Comprehensive Malaria Monitoring and Evaluation Plan." The Plan was launched last month.
Keith McKenzie, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative, said that, to complement the laudable efforts made to date in increasing the distribution and coverage of LITNs, there needed to be a rapid, nation-wide acceleration in their use in order to meet the National Malaria Control Strategy target of 85% of households owning at least one net by the year 2010.
"Distributing mosquito nets does not prevent malaria; using them does," said McKenzie.
Endemic in 95% of Uganda, malaria causes close to 15% of all in-patient deaths countrywide.
Children under five - who comprise 22% of the national population - are the most vulnerable to the disease.
On average, children in Uganda experience five episodes of malaria per year. In addition, the disease is a significant contributor to miscarriages and low-birth weight.
The theme of this year's World Malaria Day is "Counting Malaria Out".
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