Hope Against Malaria Project Final Report

Project Need & Rationale

Namuwongo is the second largest slum area in Kampala, Uganda with 15,000+ residents.  Many live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, while access to basic healthcare services is limited. The population of Namuwongo is largely made up of low-income earners, informal workers, and displaced persons, many of whom are vulnerable to various health risks, particularly malaria. 

Local health facilities are stretched thin, and environmental conditions in the area continue to support mosquito breeding. These realities required a community-based response that brings prevention, screening, referral, treatment, and education directly into vulnerable households while addressing environmental risk factors.

According to a 2022 report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Namuwongo slum has one of the highest reported rates of malaria in Kampala. Pregnant women and children under five are the most affected. Malaria accounts for 50% of hospital visits from Namuwongo residents, especially during the rainy seasons. Studies suggest that about 40% of children under five in the slum suffer from malaria each year, while pregnant women face a 50% higher risk of contracting malaria compared to non-pregnant adults. The nearest public health center is Kisugu Health Center III, which is often overcrowded.

The project identified and trained 10 CHEWs and 5 health workers from ten zones of Namuwongo. The two-day training was conducted by professionals from C-Care Foundation with support from Rotaractors. Training covered malaria transmission, screening, prevention, treatment, communication, referral procedures, and data collection. Sessions combined classroom instruction with practical demonstrations, including use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), IPTp, ITN use, and reporting tools.

This training aimed to equip the participants with the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively support the Hope Against Malaria Project and sustain malaria control efforts beyond its implementation period.

Sessions on communication, peer group facilitation, and community mobilization empowered CHEWs to effectively conduct sensitization campaigns and health talks within their zones, translating medical information into actionable community messages.

Household mapping was the entry point for delivery of prevention, screening, and referral activities. Prior to distributing insecticide-treated nets, Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) conducted door-to-door mapping to identify households with pregnant women and children under five. This approach ensured that prevention, screening, and referral activities were targeted to the identified households and coordinated through assigned CHEWs. Each mapped household was registered and marked with a unique sticker to enable follow-up.

A total of 5,022 households were mapped, and 586 pregnant women and 404 children under five were reached with health education services during this step. An initial screening during the household mapping identified 183 individuals with malaria symptoms who were referred to the C-Care Foundation Clinic for testing and treatment.  Of these, 90 people visited a clinic for testing and further management following referral. 

Rotaractors and CHEWs conducted malaria awareness activities through five radio talk shows on Watex Radio, two door-to-door megaphone outreach activities, and malaria talks held during five religious gatherings. All messaging was delivered in Luganda and addressed malaria spread and prevention. Based on activity records, these outreach efforts contributed to an estimated reach of approximately 25,000 people with malaria information.

Rotaractors and CHEWs conducted four health education sessions with 100 boda boda riders. Boda bodas are bicycles and motorcycle taxis commonly used for transportation by local commuters. Riders received malaria prevention information and branded reflectors displaying malaria messages. The reflectors increased visibility of malaria prevention messages during routine transport activities. Project records indicate that riders reported increased understanding of malaria prevention and willingness to share information within their networks.

Four community clean-up days were conducted in Kanyogoga, Yoka, Namuwongo B, and Kasanvu zones. The goal of clean-ups are to eliminate breeding areas for mosquitoes, specifically around homes and neighborhoods, to reduce malaria transmission risk. Rotaractors, Rotarians, community members, and local leaders worked together to clear bushes, remove stagnant water, and unclog drainage channels. 

To support ongoing clean-up efforts, the project provided tools including 10 rakes, 8 hoes, 3 spades, 20 hard brooms, 20 heavy-duty gloves, and 8 wheelbarrows. These items were handed over to the chairperson of Kanyogoga zone for continued use across the zones. Rotaractors committed to quarterly stock checks and ongoing participation in monthly cleanups.