Health experts in Uganda are advocating for increased awareness and efforts to combat disease-carrying mosquitoes due to their evolving nature, which threatens the effectiveness of existing tools to control malaria.
This push for action is being emphasized ahead of World Mosquito Day, observed on August 20 annually, in commemoration of Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery in 1897 that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans.
Uganda is commemorating World Mosquito Day under the theme “Prevent the Bite,” as part of a renewed campaign to raise awareness about the persistent threat of mosquito-borne diseases and highlight ongoing efforts to fight malaria. The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Forum on Malaria, Dr. Timothy Lusala Batuwa, points out that Uganda records over 100,000 malaria-related deaths each year, surpassing the toll of HIV/AIDS. This emphasizes the importance of reinvigorating the fight against malaria.
The population most at risk for malaria in Uganda includes children under the age of five, pregnant mothers, individuals with sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS patients, and those living in refugee camps.
The government has promoted various interventions to address this, including the use of insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds such as bushes and stagnant water.
.Geoffrey Eric Mutiwa, a Member of Parliament, urges all citizens to respond to the call for action, as mosquitoes continue to place an economic burden on families.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Report 2022 highlights that Sub-Saharan African countries contribute to 234 million cases of malaria globally. Six countries, including Uganda, contribute to 55 percent of these cases. Uganda ranks third in Africa, following Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in terms of malaria cases.
Research shows that there are over 3,500 species of mosquitoes worldwide, with 837 of them found in Africa. More than 500 Anopheles species, which are particularly associated with malaria transmission, have been identified, and over 30 of them are considered significant public health threats.