Heath minister Aceng announces upsurge in malaria cases

She made this revelation at the Parliament during the plenary sitting of Wednesday, July 6th, 2022, while responding to the report of the health committee on the state of health service delivery in selected regions of Busoga, Elgon, Bukedi, Ankole and Buganda.

“We are having an upsurge in malaria and some people might be experiencing what we call black water fever which is killing many children,” Aceng said.

The affected sub-regions include, Karamoja, Acholi, Lango, Bukedea and Busoga.

In the report, the committee observed a stock out of anti-malarial drugs which Aceng said was justified by the rampant malaria upsurge.

“It is because of the upsurge that we have channeled medicines to the affected regions,” she said.

The Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Dr Charles Ayume, said the stock outs were observed in all health facilities his committee visited and that patients were forced to purchase from private suppliers at costs that many could not afford.

“Some facilities reported being unable to receive anti-malarials in the last two delivery cycles, this meant adults have to go and buy anti-malarials from private facilities hence presenting pressure on household incomes,” said Ayume.

He called for an increase in the budget for the National Medical Stores to mitigate such shortages.

He also asked Ministry of Health and National Medical Stores to prioritize antimalarials in health facilities cognizant that malaria remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity across all age groups in Uganda.

Legislators urged government to make use of established local scientists such as those behind Covidex, an approved local remedy against COVID-19 to manufacture local anti-malaria drugs.

“We have scientists in this country who have even come up with innovations. We should recommend the new scientists to make anti-malarials,” said Hon. Solomon Silwany (NRM, Bukooli County Central).

Bukonjo County West MP, Godfrey Katusabe, singled out Prof. Patrick Ogwang, the scientist behind Covidex, as one that government could engage to manufacture anti-malarials.

“The innovation and output of Prof. Ogwang is internationally recognised, it would be unwise as a country not to support him,” said Katusabe.

Similarly, the report also revealed that most health centres visited had issues with medical equipment ranging from incompatibilities with power, lack of spare parts, missing parts and negligence.