Ajarova, Bitature will lead us to a Malaria Free Uganda by 2030

Last week, the Ministry of Health launched a new entity to boost the fight against Malaria infections and death.

The entity, a Board of Directors of Malaria Free Uganda which is an innovative Public-Private Partnership has been established to sustain and accelerate the National Malaria Response.

As malaria champions, the Board will advocate for malaria to remain high on the national development agenda, including for sectors outside of health.

The board will also remove barriers to coordinating action across sectors and also mobilize financial and in-kind goods and services to plug resource gaps under the national malaria strategic plan, as well as strengthen mutual accountability for achieving a malaria-free Uganda by 2030 and lead the promotion for the inclusion of MFU into the private sector Corporate Social Responsibility Programs.

The board comes at a time when the government is in concerted efforts to step down on the infections in Malaria, which by the way remains a big contributor to deaths and sickness in Uganda.

Malaria we need to keep reminding people is responsible for 30-50% of outpatient visits, 15-20% of hospital admissions, and up to 20% of inpatient deaths.

Malaria is seen as a routine part of health rather than the crisis it is and causes our delay to economic freedom, call it the vision 2040 because each family will spend considerable dollars to cure it besides the capacity to keep one out of work and limit their efficiency and final contribution to the economic chain.

The government is already issuing free mosquito nets across the country under “sleep under the net”.

The talent of the board which includes seasoned mobilizers in Lillian Ajarova, the CEO of Uganda Tourism Board, and Simba Group Chairman Patrick Bitature is icing on the cake. These will support government efforts to achieve a Malaria Free Uganda by 2030’.

Such efforts kicked Polio out of Uganda, and e look forward to putting Malaria out of action.

The Board is composed of:

1. Kenneth Mugisha, Rotarian Malaria Partners Uganda
2. Patrick Bitature, Chairman Simba Group
3. Solomon Ossiya, Rotarian Malaria Partners Uganda
4. Lillian Ajarova, CEO, Uganda Tourism Board
5. Fabian Kasi, CEO, Centenary Bank,
6. Barbara Mulwana, Chairperson Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA)
7. Harrison Mutikanga, CEO, Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited
8. Proscovia Nabbanja, CEO, Uganda National Oil Company
9. Sylvia Arinaitwe, Dep. MD, National Water & Sewerage Corporation
10. Juliet Kyokunda, CEO Uganda Biodiversity Fund
11. Bildard Buguma, MD, Joint Medical Stores

The writer is a private contributor to the Nile Post