Government at the start of April kick-started the distribution of a free mosquito nets across Uganda in a bid to tame the spread of malaria across communities. The anti-malaria campaign also includes fumigating areas around city markets as well as distribute mosquito nets to vendors sleeping there. Launching the program at Nakawa market in April, the Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine said as the country battles the COVID 19 pandemic, they realised that there is another risk, malaria.
The campaign stems from a directive by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to vendors to sleep in the market to eliminate the risk of taking the coronavirus to their homes or picking it from their homes and bringing it to markets.
He also directed the Health Ministry to work with local governments to distribute mosquito nets to vendors and fumigate areas around the market. Atwine said they would provide nets and fumigate all markets in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts in line with the presidential directive.
The Health Ministry is also working with KCCA to desilt nearby channels that have also become breeding grounds for mosquito. Jimmy Opigo, the Assistant Commissioner Malaria Control Program said it is important to prevent malaria especially now since doctors are occupied with COVID-19.
The Ministry had earlier planned to conduct a nationwide distribution of the mosquito nets but this was slowed down by the COVID 19 virus.
The Health ministry confirmed they have over 10 million nets in their stores from which they will pick some to give to the vendors sleeping in markets.
Dr. Alfred Mubangizi, the Acting Assistant Commissioner Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases, says they will be spraying all breeding areas around markets to kill the larvae and adult mosquitoes in markets. The team conducting the spray is using pirates, a plants based chemical to spray the mosquitoes.
She welcomed the presidential directive to give them mosquito nets, saying there are so many mosquitoes around her neighborhood adding that the nets will also help safeguard her children.
The Ministry of Health Free Mosquito Nets distribution across Uganda will help save millions of lives that are at the risk of malaria and other diseases.
