The Buteba Malaria Control Project (BMCP) was established to control, reduce, and eventually eliminate malaria in the rural community of Buteba in Uganda’s Busia District. It is led by the Rotaract Club of Busia Border in Rotary District 9213 and is supported by Malaria Partners International through the Community Impact Grants Program.
Since launch, the project has enrolled 340 households, each with at least one malaria-positive member. Every participating household receives education on proven malaria-prevention practices and ongoing test-and-treat support from a trained Community Health Worker (CHW) assigned to that family. The sensitization campaign focuses on changing behaviors and mindsets to lower treatment costs and reduce malaria incidence at the household level.
Because Buteba lies on the border between Uganda and Kenya, the team plans to enroll 20 additional cross-border households to study the unique behavioral patterns of families that live on both sides of the border.
Project approval was granted in March 2024, activities began in April 2024, and the final wrap-up is now under way. Key collaborators include CHWs, local leaders, and the health teams of Buteba and Busia District.
Activities completed:
Household sensitization: Community- and household-level sessions promoting malaria-smart behaviors.
Net distribution: Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets provided to enrolled households with coverage gaps.
Treatment and referrals: Testing, first-line treatment, and referrals to health facilities for any recurring cases.
Bicycle distribution: Branded bicycles supplied to all 20 CHWs to improve mobility during outreach.
Backpack supplies: Backpacks issued to CHWs for safely carrying documents, test kits, and antimalarials.
Impact: More than 2,000 people directly reached and 5,000 indirectly benefited. Household malaria incidence has fallen by over 70 percent, and 500-plus long-lasting nets have been distributed. These gains align with the introduction of the malaria vaccine, marking another step toward elimination.
