Kampala, Uganda: Sironko District Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Mafabi Asha Nabulo has called for urgent improvements in the management of malaria cases in schools, warning that inadequate treatment is putting learners’ lives at risk amid growing concern over deaths linked to the disease.
Nabulo made the remarks on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday during a debate on malaria following recent reports of learner deaths that have heightened public concern over the country’s preparedness to manage infections in schools.
The legislator challenged statistics suggesting malaria prevalence remains at 10 percent, saying those figures are outdated and no longer reflect the current burden of the disease.
“I need to clarify that the prevalence is no longer 10 per cent. Those are statistics of 2019, and it has actually increased,” Nabulo told Parliament.
She said many malaria infections are now being recorded in both primary and secondary schools, where learners often fail to receive timely and appropriate treatment.
According to the MP, one of the biggest challenges lies in how school health facilities respond to suspected malaria cases.
“Many of these malaria cases are actually in schools, secondary schools and primary schools. Like my colleague has mentioned, the treatment method that’s where the problem is. They give them Panadol, headache Panadol alone,” she said.
Nabulo also noted that some individuals may be more susceptible to mosquito bites, adding that people with blood group O positive appear to be particularly vulnerable to malaria infection.
Her concerns come a day after Parliament urged the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to strengthen malaria case management in schools, with lawmakers calling for properly equipped sick bays, trained nurses and improved treatment protocols for learners.
Legislators noted that school-going children are a major reservoir for malaria transmission and warned that poor management of infections is contributing to preventable illness and deaths.
But Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi has dismissed reports that a new malaria strain is responsible for the recent deaths of students, saying available evidence points instead to gaps in immunity among learners rather than mutations in the malaria parasite.
Uganda continues to rank among the countries with the highest malaria burden globally. In April, the Ministry of Health launched the Uganda Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan 2026–2030, targeting zero malaria deaths by 2030 through strengthened prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment.
Health experts have repeatedly stressed that prompt diagnosis and administration of recommended antimalarial medicines, rather than relying solely on painkillers such as paracetamol, are essential in preventing severe illness and fatalities.
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