GULU, UGANDA: Gulu Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) Mr James Cosmas Okidi has appealed to the residents to step up the fight against Malaria as cases are likely to increase as rain resumes in the region.
Mr Okidi says the current weather condition is really worrying leaders and Malaria task force members in Gulu district, Northern Uganda should stay on alert to fight cases that may arise very soon.
The Deputy RDC said this in an exclusive with DailyExpress on April 19th ahead of the World Malaria Day commemoration set for next week on the 25th of April 2023.
Mr Okidi revealed that the high prevalence rate and most affected people are pregnant mothers and children under five years of age.
“As a chairperson of the malaria task force, we have had a planning meeting to discuss key roles and responsibilities of task force members in combating the spread of malaria in Gulu District,” Mr Okidi said.
He added that they have observed how the Acholi sub-region is an epicentre for malaria spread therefore a committee and locals are required to double their effort in the mobilization against malaria.
“I want to encourage people to always test for malaria in case he/she is sick and appeal to the general population in Gulu District to always sleep under treated mosquito nets,” RDC Okidi said.
“Let’s observe good sanitation practices at home so that we control the spread of malaria,” he added.
In the report presented to the committee by district malaria focal person Mr William Cosmas Onyai, said out of 10 people if tested 8 will turn to be positive for malaria they are currently carrying out tests, treatment and tract.
According to global stats, a child under five dies of malaria nearly every minute. Many of these deaths according to UNICEF are preventable and treatable.
In 2021, there were 247 million malaria cases globally which led to 619,000 deaths in total. Of these deaths, 77 per cent were children under 5 years of age.
This translates into a daily toll of over one thousand children under age 5.
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