Why malaria prevalence is highest in Northern Uganda
GULU CITY, May 6, 2025 –– The prevalence of malaria in Northern Uganda is the highest compared to other regions in the country. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Northern Uganda registers between 450 to 500 out of 1,000 malaria cases.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health revealed in an interview with this reporter that in Northern Uganda, Apac tops the chat with the highest malaria infections followed by Lira and Gulu City, explaining the ministry`s recent interventions in tackling the endemic.
According to Aceng, Northern Uganda has two types of mosquitos, Anopheles Phunestus and anopheles Gambie which have proven to be heat resistant, compared to other regions where the cases tend to rise only during the rainy season.
She blames the locals for not adhering to preventive measures for malaria. She urged the local to take malaria as a dangerous disease killing relatives, friends, pregnant mothers, and children. “The people who are dying are our relatives, friends, children,” Aceng says.
“We need to pull our socks, especially the leaders, let us encourage our population to uptake the vaccines, not just malaria, because the vaccine uptake for example in Acholi is also very low,”Aceng adds.
Santa Okot, the Aruu County Member of Parliament says the high prevalence rate of malaria in Acholi Sub region has negatively impacted the livelihoods of the people affected, contributing heavily to poverty.
According to Okot, instead of people focusing income generating activities, they end up investing the small money they have into treating their loved ones.
Okot wants the Ministry of Health to invest more into community sensitization to help the mobilise the people to implement the good practices of hygiene, vaccination among other activities to prevent malaria from breeding.
In a bid to support Northern Uganda in the fight against malaria, the Ministry of Health last week announced a partnership with the Acholi Cultural Institution, Ker Kwaro Acholi, which will support the traditional and cultural leaders and chiefs to help sensitise and mobilise the community to join the fight against the disease.
https://thecooperator.news/govt-targets-1-1mln-infants-for-new-malaria-vaccine/
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