Malaria is the leading killer disease in Uganda causing significant sickness and deaths.
Malaria is caused by the plasmodium falciparum parasite, which is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The disease is both preventable and curable but can be fatal if quick medical care is not sought.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that Uganda has the world’s highest malaria incidence rate of 478 cases per 1,000 people annually. Deaths from the disease are estimated at 70,000 to 100,000 per year.
Who is at risk of getting of malaria in Uganda?
Anyone can get Malaria, but the most at-risk groups are children below 5 years, pregnant women and people with low immunity.
Signs that you may have malaria
Symptoms of Malaria start showing within 7 days to 2 weeks after infection, according to the Ministry of Health. However, you need to go for a check-up to avoid doubt. The most common symptoms are:
- High fever and chills
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- General body weakness
- Body aches (muscle and joint pains)
Malaria may cause complications such as severe anaemia, respiratory distress, cerebral malaria and multiple organ failure in adults. Malaria in pregnant women may cause anaemia, preterm delivery, low birth, weight, and stillbirths. If not treated promptly, malaria can progress to severe complications, often leading to death.
How is Malaria spread?
A person can develop malaria if they are bitten by an infected mosquito. To cause an infection in a person, the insect must carry a parasite known as plasmodium. It is the female anopheles mosquito that transmits malaria to humans.
When the female anopheles mosquito bites a person, the parasite enters the blood, it moves to the liver and begins multiplying.
The liver releases new malaria parasites back into the bloodstream, where they cause infections of red blood cells and multiply further. Some malaria parasites remain in the liver and do not circulate until later, resulting in recurrence.
Malaria can be prevented through the following ways.
Malaria can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and by taking anti malarial medicines. Talk to a doctor about taking preventative medicines before travelling to areas where malaria is common. The following measures have been proven to prevent malaria.
- Sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net.
- Using mosquito repellents to prevent mosquito bites.
- Using mosquito coil and vaporizers in the evening hours.
- Wear protective clothing.
- Using window screens.
- Clearing bushy areas around homesteads.
- Closing windows and doors early in the evening to prevent mosquitoes from entering into the house.
Treatment of malaria
If you suspect that you're experiencing signs and symptoms of malaria, it's important to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest healthcare facility.
WHO recommends that all suspected cases of malaria be confirmed using parasite based diagnostic testing through either microscopy or a rapid diagnostic test.
Once detected, Malaria always requires treatment with medicine.
Multiple medicines are used to treat malaria, but doctors will decide what type of medicines will be used based on:
- The type of malaria.
- Whether a malaria parasite is resistant to a medicine.
- The weight or age of the person infection with malaria.
Whether the person is pregnant.
Where to get treatment
Uganda has a decentralized health care system whereby health services are delivered within seven tiers, including national referral hospitals, regional hospitals, district hospitals, health Centre IV, health Centre III, health Centre II and community health workers.
Refugees in Uganda can access health services through a variety of mechanisms and from several facilities including:
Health facilities in refugee settlements
Uganda has established health facilities specifically dedicated to serving refugees. These facilities are in refugee settlements across the country. These facilities offer a range of services such as primary healthcare, maternal and child health, and HIV/AIDS treatment.
Accessing healthcare in Kampala
Urban refugees based in Kampala are free to receive healthcare at all government health facilities in the city and metropolitan areas. These include Mulago national referral hospital located at Mulago Hill in Kampala, Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, located along Salaama Road in Makindye Division, and Kawempe National referral hospital, located in Kawempe Division. The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has also established 10 health centres in the different divisions of Kampala.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Numerous NGOs operating in Uganda provide healthcare services to refugees. These organizations often establish clinics or mobile health teams within refugee settlements and in Kampala to ensure access to healthcare. NGOs may focus on specific health issues such as reproductive health, nutrition, or mental health.
For example, Transcultural psychosocial Organisation (TPO), which offers mental health services, Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors without borders) offers reproductive health services HIV and tuberculosis prevention services, and many others. You can identify a health service organisation through our service map here.
Partnerships and Coordination
In Uganda, the Ministry of Health works collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), international donors, and other development partners. These partnerships help to strengthen the health system and ensure the provision of health services to refugees. Through these partnerships and coordination, the refugees have been included in the HIV/AIDs, malaria, TB, nutrition, immunisation and other health programs.
For more information, visit:
https://www.severemalaria.org/countries/uganda
https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/african-american-anemia