By Cynthia E. Pacutho, Program Coordinator, Malaria Partners Uganda

Despite the progress made in intensifying malaria control and prevention approaches as well as aligning efforts to eliminate malaria in Uganda, the disease remains as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality rates in the country. For a country to accede efforts to reduce the burden of malaria, it is essential to create and maintain adequate surveillance system adapted to its needs in order to implement broader malaria control.

The reporting rate for the month of June 2022 was 48.3% totaling to 2,621,207 cases according to HMIS Reporting Rates. However, reporting rate ranged from 8.9% to 100% of which 75.4% of the districts had 75% reporting data. In June 2022, a total of 1,477,232 cases of malaria were treated, of these, 72,043 (4.9%) were admitted for inpatient care.

This is a 25.2% increase from May 2022 Trends in Malaria the highest for the last 1 year and 62% of OPD cases are due to Malaria on average. The burden of malaria in the OPD ranges from 2.8% to 100%. The Malaria burden was highest in south western and Eastern regions of the country. 

Epidemic Response interventions by Malaria Partners Uganda 

• Held weekly partner meetings to have an advocacy agenda to be shared in epidemic districts. 
• Continuous monitoring of stock levels at facilities and plotting Normal Malaria Channels in all Health Facilities in affected regions. 
• To have a mass blood donation drive in Busoga Region with Rotarians aimed to fight anaemia in children as we commemorate world mosquito day next month 
• To conduct mortality reviews in most affected regions in partnership with NMCD and other Implementing Partners. 
• Media talks and SBC integrated advocacy with community dialogues.