Zero Malaria in Bukasa-Kirinya Village: A Year of Community Impact and Progress

Jan 31, 2025 | 2025, Blog, CHW Training, Community Education, Community Impact Grants, Featured, MPU, MPU Community Impact Grants

Highlighting 9-Months of Project Impact

The Zero Malaria in Bukasa-Kirinya initiative has made a significant impact over the past nine months, reaching approximately 60,000 people across 13,408 households. Through community-driven efforts, the project trained 8 Community Health Workers and 16 volunteers, conducted 17 malaria education campaigns, and engaged over 7,400 people in outreach and sensitization activities.

 With three months remaining in its first phase, the project continues to prioritize vulnerable populations and drive momentum toward a malaria-free Bukasa-Kirinya.

Infographic titled 'Zero Malaria in Bukasa-Kirinya' with key statistics on the malaria elimination initiative. The top section states that the project supports approximately 60,000 people (13,408 households) facing malaria. A mosquito icon with a red 'no' symbol is displayed.</p> <p>Key statistics include:</p> <p>Over 2,500 hours of community service volunteered (illustrated by a clock icon).<br /> 1,077 homes reached through door-to-door sensitization (illustrated by a house icon).<br /> Women represent 83% of the project management team (illustrated by a meeting icon).<br /> 5 Rotary Clubs and 22 Rotaract Clubs supporting project activities (illustrated by the Rotary International logo).<br /> 1 health facility, 756 pregnant women, and 233 children were direct project beneficiaries (illustrated by human figures holding hands).<br /> 7,473 people reached through community outreach, home visits, and school initiatives (illustrated by raised hands in different colors).<br /> 8 Community Health Workers (CHWs) serving a population of approximately 32,000 people (illustrated by a clipboard with a medical cross).

Learn More About the Project

Malaria remains one of the leading health challenges in the Bukasa-Kirinya Village of Uganda, particularly affecting pregnant women and children under five. A baseline survey at the Kirinya Health Centre II recorded 75 malaria cases among pregnant women and 250 cases in children under five between May - June 2023. These numbers reflect the urgent need for improved prevention, testing, and treatment efforts in the community. 

The impact of malaria extends beyond health—it also affects education and economic stability. In Uganda, each malaria incidence costs families an average of $9 USD, or 3% of their annual income. Many residents rely on self-medication with herbs, often without proper diagnosis, due to frequent drug shortages at public health centers and the high-cost of private care. Additionally, poor drainage systems contribute to mosquito breeding, increasing the risk of malaria transmission. 

Recognizing these challenges, the Rotaract Club of Kampala North Musical (RCTKNM), in partnership with Malaria Partners Uganda (MPU) and other stakeholders, launched the Zero Malaria in Bukasa-Kirinya Village project in 2024. 

With funding from Malaria Partners International Community Impact Grants Program, this project aims to reduce malaria prevalence through education, testing, treatment, and environmental interventions, while equipping health workers and clinics with the tools needed for sustained malaria prevention and care. 

Project Design: A Solution-Focused Approach  

To effectively reduce malaria cases in Bukasa-Kirinya Village, each initiative was designed to address specific challenges faced by the community, while supporting a sustainable and long-term impact. Here’s how the project’s approach aligned with the community’s needs: 

  • Training Volunteers & Health Workers → Many residents rely on home remedies due to limited access to healthcare. Training Village Health Technicians (VHTs) and Uganda Girl Guides Association (UGGA) volunteers equips them with the skills to provide accurate malaria education, screenings, and referrals, ensuring more people in their communities receive proper care.

  • Community Outreach → Educating residents on malaria prevention, testing, and treatment encourages early diagnosis and proper care at health facilities, helping to reduce reliance on self-medication and untreated cases. 

Community members work together with health volunteers to remove standing water and clear drainage channels during an environmental clean-up campaign in Bukasa Kirinya.
  • Environmental Clean-Ups → Stagnant water in the village creates ideal conditions for mosquitoes. Clean-up efforts clear drainage channels and promote better sanitation, reducing mosquito breeding areas and malaria transmission. 
  • Health Infrastructure Support → Providing antimalarial drugs, diagnostic kits, and medical supplies strengthens Kirinya Health Centre II, improving access to malaria testing and treatment. 
  • Media and Awareness Campaigns → Sharing malaria prevention and treatment messages through radio, TV, and social media reaches a wider audience, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis and antenatal care.
Community members work together with health volunteers to remove standing water and clear drainage channels during an environmental clean-up campaign in Bukasa Kirinya.

What the Project Accomplished in 2024
Through collaborative efforts, the project made significant strides in reducing malaria risk and improving access to healthcare

  • Health Worker Trainings
    - 8 Village Health Teams (VHT) workers trained, each supporting ~500 residents annually.
    - 16 UGGA volunteers trained to integrate malaria education into schools and communities. 
  • Community Engagement & Outreach
    - 271 households visited through door-to-door malaria education.
    - 89 individuals tested, with 61 confirmed cases treated.
    - 4 pregnant women educated on malaria prevention and antenatal care.
    - 345 community members engaged in group sensitization sessions. 
Eight trained Village Health Team (VHT) members stand together in front of a banner for the Zero Malaria in Bukasa-Kirinya Village project. Wearing reflective vests with Rotary branding, they represent the frontline health workers trained to provide malaria education, testing, and treatment support in the community. This training equips them to reach approximately 500 residents each, strengthening local malaria prevention efforts.
A Village Health Team (VHT) member conducts a malaria education session for mothers and caregivers under a tent. Holding an illustrated guide, she explains prevention strategies, the importance of early testing, and treatment options to promote better health for children and pregnant women in Bukasa Kirinya.
A facilitator leads a malaria awareness and prevention discussion with community members at Kirinya Health Centre II. The session focuses on early malaria diagnosis, antenatal care, and treatment options, supporting efforts to reduce malaria cases among vulnerable groups.
  • School-Based Awareness
    - 164 students and staff were educated on malaria prevention.
    - Child2Family program launched, encouraging students to bring malaria education home. 
  • Environmental & Sustainability Efforts
    - World Mosquito Day clean-up cleared mosquito breeding sites.
    - 108 mosquito-repellent plants distributed and planted to promote long-term control. 
  • Medical Support & Resource Allocation
    - Donated medical supplies to the Kirinya Health Centre II, including Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits, Examination Gloves, Clinical Thermometers, Hand Sanitizer, and Antimalarial Drugs – Lumartem DT (Artemether-Lumefantrine) 
Volunteers and health workers participate in an environmental clean-up, removing stagnant water and overgrown vegetation to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds in Bukasa Kirinya.
Volunteers from Malaria Partners Uganda and local leaders hand over donated medical supplies, including malaria test kits, gloves, and antimalarial drugs, to a healthcare worker at Kirinya Health Centre II. This contribution supports malaria testing and treatment in the community.
A speaker addresses the community during the World Mosquito Day malaria prevention drive, accompanied by volunteers holding signs with messages such as "Say No to Malaria Deaths in Children" and "UGGA Against Malaria."

What's Next for 2025?

  • Expanding Community Outreach → Training more VHTs and volunteers to reach additional households and schools.   
  • Hosting a Free Medical Camp (March 2025) → Providing free malaria screening and treatment for residents
    • Enhancing Antenatal Care Awareness → Increasing education on malaria prevention during pregnancy and encouraging more women to attend early antenatal visits
    • Economic Empowerment & Sustainability → Teaching mosquito-repellent plant cultivation and production of natural repellents to promote long-term, community-led malaria prevention

       

      With continued community engagement, health worker training, and sustainable interventions, the Zero Malaria in Bukasa-Kirinya Village project is paving the way for a malaria-free future—one household, one school, and one community at a time.