The Government through Ministry of Health has extended dates for the commencement of Wave 3 of National Mosquito Net Distribution. The Wave 3 ‘Under The Net Campaign’ was due to start from 25th October to November 5th but it has now been further and will start on 1st November to 13t November.
Dr. Opigo of Ministry of Health has COVID-19 related delays have impacted shipping, port handling, trucking and customs handling and this is why period was extended.
“I wish also to update you that wave 3 has been moved ahead by one week. The COVID-19 related delays has impacted shipping, port handling, trucking and customs handling. Though we now have enough nets at NMS, we needed additional one more week for NDA to complete quality tests so that we are sure of the quality of nets we shall give the community. Many thanks and great weekend,” Dr. Opigo said.
Through the ‘Under the net’ campaign, the Ministry of Health embarked on distributing free Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) to the people of Uganda.
According to officials from the Ministry, wave 3 of the mosquito net distribution will start on October 15 and end November 5, 2020, covering a total of 39 districts.
The districts to be covered under the third wave include; Bukomansimbi, Kalungu, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Luweero, Lwengo, Masaka, Mityana, Mpigi, Hoima, Butambala, Iganga, Kitagwenda, Kamwenge, Gomba, Rakai, Kikuube, Ngora, Katakwi, Amuria, Oyam, Kole, Kumi, Bukedea, Agago, Manafwa, Abim, Amudat, Kaabong, Kapelebyong, Karenga, Kotido, Kiryandongo, Masindi, Buliisa, Moroto, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripiriti and Napak.
It should be noted that Kampala and Wakiso districts were meant be covered in this third wave, however, due to the increasing rains in the above 39 districts coupled with massive floods, the Ministry of Health decided to prioritize these areas to protect the people from getting infected with malaria.
Wave 2 of the net distribution started on August 9, 2020, and ended on August 21, 2020.
A total of 28 districts were covered mainly in Western Uganda and among others, these included; Kyankwanzi, Buhweju, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabo, Bushenyi, Isingiro, Kabarole, Kakumiro. Rukungiri, Kabale, Kiruhura, Kazo and Rubanda.
Wave 1 covered 25 districts in the Northern and Eastern regions.
According to the MOH, this net distribution campaign takes into account the need to protect households against spread of Coronavirus by making Village Health Teams (VHTs) to spend short minutes during the distribution process who will move door to door because mass gatherings will not be allowed in the process.
Meanwhile MOH senior spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona in an earlier interview disclosed that refugees will be part of the beneficiaries in which the ministry of health will link up with UNHCR for the cause among refugee communities.
Ainebyoona warned the public against misuse of the nets as there are reports that many people use them for fishing and fencing nursery beds among others.
“We need to use these nets effectively with aims of bringing down malaria prevalence rate to zero in Uganda”, Ainebyoona said.
He called upon Ugandans to immediately visit health centres whenever they detect possible signs of Malaria in them and among their children in homes.
Over the years, Uganda has registered a success in the drop of malaria prevalence from 2009 when the prevalence rate stood at 42 percent down to 9.2 percent between 2018 and 2019.
Recently while releasing Covid-19 patients at Arua Regional Referral Hospital in Arua City, state minster for primary health Care, Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu warned health workers against reluctance in treating Malaria cases at the expense of Coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic which took over the world at the start of this year has seen the world health body praise Uganda for the good management efforts that have helped safeguard the country from being an extreme case.
