Small Grant, Large Impact

Article by Cynthia E. Pacutho, Program Coordinator, Malaria Partners Uganda

On the 19th of March 2022, Malaria Partners Uganda (MPU) accompanied Rotaractors from the Rotaract Club of Kampala North (KANOS) to distribute 600 long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to residents of Bufuma and Bubanzi villages and pregnant mothers at Mwera Health Center IV in the second phase of their Kanos4Kakindu Project. The first phase involved mass Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) of residents’ homes. Rotaractors also carried out sensitization on proper net use and maintenance. The project combines the LLINs, Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and breaking of barriers to early treatment through education to combat the spread of malaria in Kakindu.

Over the past two years, 8 Rotary clubs in Uganda have received funding from Malaria Partners International (MPI) to carry out malaria projects in high burden areas. As partners, MPU has witnessed these projects successfully engage, support and sensitize their targeted communities in laviciding, proper garbage disposal, IRS, correct LLIN usage and planting mosquito-repellent vegetation, consequently lowering Malaria infections and deaths.

Rotary club of Arua’s small grant-funded project is an example of a success story that trained 22 Village Health Teams (VHTs) who distributed 300 LLINs, utilized 5000 Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (MRDT) kits and administered 3000 doses of oral anti-malarial medicines in parishes of Anzuu and Ewaa between January and August 2021. They also conducted mass malaria control and prevention sensitization on radio and with megaphones. The VHTs registered 2,961 confirmed cases of malaria and a 93.4% success rate in the treatment of these cases. MPU will showcase the success of this project during the 2022 malaria day commemoration event on 24^th April in Arua district.

MPI small grants have had a large impact on MPU’s mission to ignite a Rotarian campaign against malaria in Uganda; Rotary clubs are appreciated in their communities for their successful malaria prevention and control interventions and are acknowledged by the country’s Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Division (MoH/NMCD) and local government leaders for notable contributions in the fight against malaria at the grassroots level.