Malaria continues to be the leading cause of illness and death among children under five years in Kasese District, Amon Bwambale, the District Health Officer (DHO) has said.
Despite ongoing efforts to curb the disease, the district is still grappling with high infection rates, primarily due to low mosquito net usage and poor community practices.
Speaking during a recent health stakeholders’ meeting, Bwambale noted that malaria accounts for about 40% of all illnesses registered among children under five in the district.
In the last quarter alone, out of the 40,000 cases of illness reported, an estimated 16,000 were malaria-related. "This is alarming," Bwambale stated.
"Malaria is still the top cause of morbidity and mortality in our children. We must take deliberate steps to reverse this trend."
Despite a high coverage of mosquito nets—reaching approximately 90% of households utilization remains worryingly low.
Only 37% of the population actually uses the nets for their intended purpose.
Bwambale attributed this to misuse, citing examples where mosquito nets are repurposed as livestock ropes or chicken shelters.
“This misuse undermines our fight against malaria. Mosquito nets are not decorative items or farm tools; they are life-saving tools,” he emphasized.
Health officials in Kasese are now calling for increased community sensitization and stronger enforcement of public health guidelines.
They are also urging residents to cooperate with vaccination and disease prevention campaigns, which they say are vital in reducing child mortality and improving overall health.
Bwambale appealed to local leaders, parents, and school heads to champion the proper use of mosquito nets and support health programs targeting malaria prevention.
“As a district, we cannot afford to lose more children to a preventable disease,” he concluded.
Efforts are underway to distribute more educational materials, conduct door-to-door awareness campaigns, and strengthen primary healthcare facilities to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of malaria, especially among vulnerable populations.