Oyam: Upsurge in malaria cases worries leaders

Ronny Okot

An upsurge in malaria is causing panic among leaders of Oyam district.

With an estimated 488,000, nearly 7 out of 10 people have tested positive for malaria at the different health units in the district in the last month according to statistics from the district health officer.

Thomas Malinga, the district health officer, attributed the worrying figures to poor malarial preventive measures such as not sleeping under treated insecticide mosquito nets, bush clearing and not removing stagnant water among the community.

The most affected are children below five years and pregnant mothers.

Adea Nelson the Oyam district chairman said poor as they are, the community has to move long distances to seek proper medication, sometimes travelling as far as Gulu and Lira.

While no malarial deaths have been recorded, Anna Ekol the district secretary for health and community based services explained that the district is cash strapped in responding to an upsurge because they majorly rely on donations and development.

At Zambia Life Line Medical Centre in Myene Sub County health personnel said they are overwhelmed with people who seek health services daily.

Joseph Odongo, a clinical director at the facility, said that more than half of people who come to the facility test positive for malaria.

However there could be light at the end of the tunnel.

On August, FLAMA Uganda Medical Centre a nonprofit organisation based in Gulu donated medical equipment worth Shs 8.7 million to Zambia Life Line Medical Centre to support health services in Myene Sub County.

Flavia Teddy Okello, the director of the organisation said they conducted a survey in the district and later signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the clinic to offer medical assistance to the people in dear need.