Iganga, Uganda: The Former Vice President of Uganda, Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, has launched an aggressive anti-malaria spraying campaign in Nawaningi Sub County, Iganga District, a region grappling with one of the highest malaria prevalence rates in Busoga.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Busoga Health Forum in partnership with Iganga District Health Office and the Nawaningi Investment Forum, marks the first community-wide malaria spraying campaign in Busoga and across Uganda.
The pilot, according to the former VP, aims to combat the persistent spread of malaria by spraying mosquito breeding grounds and all households, schools, worship centers, and public spaces in the sub-county.
“When you count people who die of malaria every day in Uganda, Busoga ranks at the top. Out of 100, we come third in ranking; this is because of the high population we have compared to other regions,” Dr Kazibwe said.
She explained that the project is expected to begin mid-2025 and will include malaria screening and treatment, a unique approach not previously implemented in other spraying exercises.
The exercise will also involve screening all people for malaria and giving out treatment to those found to be positive, and this is aimed at stopping the malaria transmission cycle where mosquitoes bite a malaria-infested person and transmit into another person hence contributing to malaria prevalence.
Similar campaigns of spraying mosquito parasites, according to Dr. Kazibwe, have been done in other districts, like in Namutumba district, but with no malaria screening and treatment component for patients.
Dr. Fred Kabbale, a PhD holder in entomology and key technical advisor to the project, assured residents that the insecticide to be used, Colam (Lambda Cyhalothrin + Thiamethoxam), is safe for both humans and animals.
Malaria in Busoga
The latest data from the Ministry of Health shows that while malaria prevalence in districts such as Namayingo, Kamuli, Jinja, and Mayuge has declined slightly over the past year, it remains unacceptably high in rural areas like Nawaningi.
Iganga’s malaria prevalence rate currently stands at 44%, with up to 80% of patients at Nawaningi Health Centre III testing positive for the disease. “Government has given people mosquito nets, but instead they’re using them in rice gardens, for fishing, or trapping white ants,” lamented Fred Wandera, a laboratory technician at Nawaningi Health Centre III.
Dr. Karim Muluya Mwebaza, Iganga’s Assistant District Health Officer, confirmed that Nawaningi Sub County is the district’s top malaria hotspot. He praised the campaign, noting that Iganga Main Hospital, the region’s biggest referral facility, is overwhelmed by cases from five surrounding districts.
“This is a burden not just to facilities but to families. We are grateful to Busoga Health Forum and Dr. Kazibwe for responding to our call,” he said.
The project is privately funded by residents of Nawaningi through the Nawaningi Investment Forum. Dr. Allan Katamba Semakula, the Forum’s treasurer, emphasized that malaria not only drains health but economic productivity in the region.
“People spend valuable time and resources on constant treatment. This campaign is a step toward a healthier, more productive society,” he said.
The LC3 Chairperson for Nawaningi, Mr. Ndaye Yakubu, welcomed the campaign and called on locals to embrace it. Similar sentiments were echoed by Nakilurwe Village LC1 Chairman, Mr. Famba Abasa, who said mosquito-borne disease continues to affect livelihoods despite past government interventions.
After six months of implementation, the campaign team plans to evaluate its success and adjust the strategy where necessary. Meanwhile, Village Health Teams (VHTs) and awareness drives have already begun mobilizing the community ahead of the scheduled spray operations.
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